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New UK Heating Guidance Puts TRV Settings and Radiator Fixes at the Heart of Cutting Winter Bills

Which? now recommends keeping most thermostatic radiator valves at three or below to curb unnecessary heating costs.

Overview

  • Ofgem’s October price cap uplift of 2% lifted a typical annual bill to about £1,755, sharpening focus on reducing consumption rather than unit prices.
  • Which? advises avoiding TRV settings above three except in the room with the main thermostat, suggesting bedrooms sit at two to three and using the frost symbol when away.
  • British Gas guidance says radiators that are warm at the bottom and cold at the top need bleeding, followed by a boiler pressure check of roughly 1–1.5 bar when off and about 2 bar when running.
  • Experts warn against drying clothes on radiators because it blocks heat circulation, wastes energy, raises humidity and can encourage condensation and mould.
  • Consultant Gareth Whitehill cites potential savings of around £1,480 a year from seven common fixes, including clearing sludge that can cut efficiency by 20–25% and adopting steady thermostat settings near 18–21°C with measures like reflective foil.