If your radiators are warm but your rooms still feel cold or your energy bills keep rising despite reducing thermostat settings, you’re not alone. Across the UK, thousands of households lose up to 25% of their heating efficiency through small but fixable issues in their central heating system.
In this guide, Wayne (Director at Croston Plumbing & Heating) and Fia O’Loughlin (Manager at The Radiator Hub) share five practical radiator efficiency fixes that help homeowners cut energy costs, reduce heat loss, and improve comfort without needing a full system replacement.
Balance Your Radiators for Even Heat
Uneven radiator temperatures are one of the biggest causes of wasted energy. When one room overheats while another stays cold, your boiler runs longer to compensate, driving up your energy bills.
Wayne explains: “We often find radiators that haven’t been balanced properly, meaning hot water circulates unevenly through the system. A professional balance redistributes the flow evenly across all radiators, so your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard to heat every room.”
A well-balanced system can improve heating performance by up to 10%, helping your rooms warm up faster and stay warmer for longer.
Pro Tip: Ask your heating engineer to balance your system after any radiator replacement or boiler upgrade.
Add Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)
TRVs give you precise control over the temperature in each room. They’re especially effective in properties where rooms are used at different times like bedrooms, offices, or guest rooms.
According to The Energy Saving Trust, fitting TRVs can save households up to £110 per year by preventing unnecessary overheating.
Fia from The Radiator Hub recommends pairing your radiators with auto-balancing TRVs, which adjust automatically based on room temperature and water flow.
You can find a range of TRVs and accessories at The Radiator Hub.
Reflect Heat Back Into the Room
Even the most efficient radiators lose some heat through the wall behind them, especially on external walls. Installing heat reflector panels or foil behind your radiators is an easy, low-cost way to redirect that energy back into the room.
Fia explains: “Reflectors are one of those simple but effective upgrades that many homeowners overlook. They bounce radiant heat back into the living space rather than letting it escape through the wall small change, big difference.”
These can reduce heat loss by up to 6%, particularly in older or poorly insulated properties.
Keep Your Radiators Clean and Clear
A surprisingly common cause of poor heat output is dust and debris buildup. Dust traps warm air and reduces airflow, while furniture or curtains too close to the radiator block convection.
Wayne advises: “We’ve seen radiators lose a third of their efficiency simply because they’re blocked by large furniture or thick curtains. Keeping a clear space above and in front of your radiator makes a big difference.”
Quick Fix:
Use a soft brush or vacuum to clean between radiator fins. For hard-to-reach areas, a hairdryer on a cool setting works well to blow out trapped dust.
Lower Your Boiler Flow Temperature
If you have a modern condensing boiler, lowering your flow temperature can significantly improve efficiency. These boilers work best when the return water temperature is around 55°C or lower allowing them to condense and extract extra heat from exhaust gases.
Wayne adds: “By optimising flow and return temperatures, we’ve helped customers reduce their gas usage without any loss in comfort. It’s one of the easiest tweaks for long-term savings.”
Ask a qualified engineer to check your flow settings and adjust for optimal performance.
Bonus Tip: Upgrade to Modern, Efficient Radiators
Modern radiators are designed to deliver better heat output with less energy. Options such as aluminium or vertical designer radiators distribute heat more evenly and warm up faster than older steel models.
Explore the latest energy-efficient designs at The Radiator Hub, including:
These options not only look stylish but can also improve heat distribution and reduce energy waste across your home.
Start Saving with Expert Help
By combining these radiator efficiency fixes balancing, TRVs, reflectors, cleaning, and boiler optimisation, you can achieve up to 15% improvement in heating efficiency and reduce your annual energy bills by as much as £150.
Wayne concludes: “At Croston Plumbing & Heating, we believe in simple, smart improvements that make a real difference to homeowners. With a few expert adjustments, your heating system can perform better, cost less, and keep your home comfortable all winter.”
Get Started Today
If you live in Chorley, Preston, Leyland, or the surrounding North West areas, our qualified engineers can help assess your heating system and recommend the most cost-effective improvements.
📞 Call us on 01257 452879
🌐 Visit www.crostonplumbing.co.uk
Explore efficient radiator options at The Radiator Hub
