When you make your home warmer and more comfortable, the immediate benefits are obvious, but you can also boost your property in the long-term. There are some steps you can take which will ensure you add value to your home, something all homeowners should hold an interest in.

At Austin Property Services, we aim to provide you with the best standard of service in the housing market. Call on us today to ensure we provide you with the service and guidance you need.

Maintain a comfortable home

Protecting radiators is important as keeping them more efficient will help lower your bills. Modern radiators can be up to 50% more economical than those that are 20 years old, so it is essential that if they are older, more upkeep should be done to keep them working well.

Reports suggest modern radiators can be up to 50% more economical than radiators which are over 20 years old. If you have an older radiator, it requires more care and attention.

Andrew Collinge is the heating product manager at BestHeating and he has provided the following tips for maintaining the radiators in your property:

• Turn your heating on every few weeks

• Switch the valves up

• Bleed your radiators

• Check for sludge

• Add corrosion inhibitor

BestHeating’s Andrew Collinge commented: “Having a good understanding of your heating system will allow you to stay on top of many home maintenance tasks that are vital in preventing issues and money problems further down the line. If problems persist it may be better to replace your radiator which can be done by turning off the valves, bleeding it then taking it off the wall before putting in a new stylish one in time for the colder weather. If you don’t feel competent or confident in your skills it is best to contact a qualified professional who will prevent any further problems for you ahead of the winter months.”

Bleeding radiators is an essential task at home

You should only bleed radiators when they are cold. Doing so when they are hot, will lead to scalding water being released.

Anyone looking to bleed their radiator should have a cloth handy, and they will need a radiator bleed key, or if that isn’t available, a flat-head screwdriver.

The B&Q website offers the following steps on how to properly bleed a radiator:

1. Make sure your radiators are turned off and allow them to cool, if you have more than one floor, start with the lowest level.

2. Use a radiator bleed key (or in some cases a flat-head screwdriver) to turn the shaft anti-clockwise to open the valve. This should be between a quarter turn and a half-turn.

3. You’ll hear the trapped air hissing as it escapes. Hold a cloth beneath the valve to catch any water, and as soon as the first trickle appears close the valve by turning the bleed key clockwise.

4. If you have more than radiator in the property, they all need to be bled, so it is best to do them one at a time, completing the process in turn.

In theory, the process is simple, but not everyone is as confident with tasks like this as other people.

We know many people have questions and queries right now, and we are here to help as best we can. Please get in touch with Austin Property Services if there is anything, we can assist you with. You can call us on 01305 858470 or you can email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..