Overview
- In early October 2026, consumer outlets and experts urged households to run simple pre-season checks such as bleeding radiators, checking system pressure, sealing drafts, and using short burst ventilation to stop heat loss.
- If radiators gurgle or stay cold, trapped air, low system pressure, or a sticking thermostat valve are common causes and can often be fixed by bleeding the radiator and rechecking pressure.
- Technical fixes give the largest gains: a hydraulic balance and an optimised heating curve can each cut consumption by up to about 15 percent in poorly set systems when done in the right order.
- Programmable thermostats typically save around 10 percent and night setbacks usually save 5–12 percent but should be used cautiously with heat pumps and underfloor heating to avoid costly reheating.
- Households are advised to schedule annual professional maintenance for boilers and complex faults and note that the GEG has required hydraulic balancing for certain newly installed water-based systems in larger buildings since October 1, 2024.