The most common type of central heating radiator is a standard model, usually white in color, with metal construction and grooved panels. These radiators tend to accumulate dust and dirt and should be cleaned at least once a year, preferably in the summer after the heating season.
Dust in radiators can block heat flow, which means radiators have to work harder to heat the whole room. That’s why cleaning them will not only help you get a warm room in winter, but save on heating costs.
In fact, recent research has shown that a dirty heating system can increase your energy bills by up to 25%. To avoid this, all you need to do is place a towel under your radiator and run a hair dryer behind it. This will remove the remaining dust and stop the buildup.
The result is a more energy-efficient radiator that will save you money. Just be sure to perform these operations regularly to keep your radiators clean.
Luckily, it’s possible to get the most out of your home heating with a very effective trick. And, according to experts, you could make big monthly savings on your bills just by making one simple change. Have you ever cleaned your radiators?
Radiator cleaning.
Although they look clean, radiators require annual maintenance to keep them running and working for a long time. Here are several ways to remove the dust.
- First, pick up all the dust using a vacuum cleaner. The best will be a steam vacuum cleaner, but a regular vacuum cleaner will have the same effect. A hair dryer can also be useful, as it will push the dust towards the floor, and it will then be easy to pick it up with a broom.
- To wipe the surface of the radiator, you need a cloth soaked in lemon juice. After the first wipe, it is the turn of the second, with a cloth soaked only in water.
- If you have a problem with dark spots above the radiator, they can be cleaned with a dry cloth dampened with baking soda.
Aside from the fact that a clean radiator is much nicer to the eye than a messy radiator, keeping a radiator clean and free of dust and dirt can lower your heating costs. Indeed, the dust present between the fins of a convection radiator can hinder the evacuation of heat, which implies that your radiators work more intensely in order to heat the room.
It is therefore essential to carry out a complete cleaning of your radiators at least once a year and to ensure that the dirt does not concentrate on the upper part of the fins. It’s definitely a good idea to make cleaning dust and dirt from radiators part of your regular cleaning routine.
Do you use space heaters in addition to your main heating system?
Oil coolers should also be cleaned. You should take special care of your space heaters that contain convector fans. If they are dusty, the heat is less transmitted between them, which can lead to clogging and, ultimately, greater energy consumption.
Why do dust and dirt accumulate in the radiator?
Dust is everywhere, there is not only dust in your radiators, but there can also be hair from your pets (if you have any), nicotine residue (if you are a smoker) and all other things that mix in the air of your space.
You might not even notice the dust. Between us, realistically, who regularly looks inside their radiator? If you’re one of those people who doesn’t look in and behind their radiator, you’ll likely find a fair amount of dust when you do.
All that dust settles inside your heater because of the airflow that circulates the heat around the room you want to warm.
Indeed, in closed rooms, hot air circulates upwards and cold air downwards. When the air descends to the floor, carries the dust with it and falls into the radiator, the dust also begins to accumulate on the back of the radiator, which is located against the wall, and on the recesses inside of your radiator.
