As the colder months start to roll in, we're looking for efficient and inexpensive ways to keep down the ever-rising costs of energy bills. A common habit sees homeowners drying their laundry on radiators rather than hiking up a small fortune by using the tumble dryer - but a plumbing expert has advised against this with a major and little-known money warning.
According to an expert, the simple task does more harm than good as it's secretly very costly. Placing clothes on the radiator to dry means you're putting more pressure on your boiler and ultimately hiking up bills, RSVPLive reports.
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Jordan Chance at PlumbNation said: "We would recommend that you stop using your radiators to dry your clothes.
"The clothes that you place over the top of your radiators prevent the heat from escaping and heating your room, meaning that your boiler has to pick up the slack and work at a greater rate - increasing costs."
The advice comes with an additional warning as the common habit could become costly on your health in the long run.
"Similarly, the increase in the air's moisture can create condensation, leading to potential issues with mould and dampness," they added.
Plumbing expert Jordan also shared the important of people being functional with their radiators
Unfortunately, using accessories for aesthetic purposes, including radiator covers, could be wasting your money.
He explained: "If you have a radiator cover make sure to check that it is a good conductor of heat.
"Radiator covers made from materials such as wood are poor conductors and can prevent heat from being dispersed effectively - wasting energy and money.
"Also, if your radiator cover has a solid top then you may be losing even more heat, as it will be absorbed by the top of the cover."
PlumbNation added an important reminder to bleed your radiators - which many of us are guilty of forgetting to do.
According to them, keeping up to date on the simple task will help encourage air flow, make the equipment more efficient, and ultimately improves its longevity.
"Bleeding your radiator is essential in preventing the efficiency of your radiator from decreasing, as a result of air entering your heating system," PlumbNation said.
"The quickest way to check if air has entered your heating system is to turn your central heating on and feel your radiator.
"If the radiator is warm at the bottom but cold at the top this is generally a sign that air is present."
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