A plumber has shared a simple trick using a £15 device from B&Q which could help to save thousands of pounds.
TikTok user djmatrix101, a plumbing and heating engineer, recommended using a thermostatic radiator valve to lower your bill. The simple device can be bought for just a few quid but can help to save a huge sum of money.
Speaking to his thousands of followers on the app, the engineer said: "This device will save you money, if you know how to use it properly." He went on to explain how it works, reports the Manchester Evening News.
READ MORE: Drivers warned about common mistake made at petrol stations costing up to £179
He said: "Effectively a lot of people, when they switch the central heating on, they heat the entire house - so that's every room in the house that has a radiator they are heating using their boiler. The vast majority of people don't spend all day in bed, or in the bedroom.
They get up, they go downstairs, they spend the day downstairs then they go upstairs, but the heating's on all day. My advice is to go around every single room and [after installing thermostatic radiator valves] to switch them off if you're not using the radiator.
"If you can turn of 50% of your volume of radiators, you will save 50% on your gas bill - it is that straight forward. If you're not using your bedroom radiator, turn it off."
He then spoke about one common problem with the valves, which means they will still allow gas to pass through. He said: "[They have a] metal ring at the bottom. Turn the radiator valve to fully open then hand tighten the metal rings down. They come loose and if you don't tighten them down when you switch the valve off the gas will still pass.
"Switch it on about an hour before you want to use the room. A bit of forward planning, a bit of thinking about it, and you will save yourself a fortune in gas.
"A lot of people make this mistake [but] these things are regulation to be fitted on any new central heating system and we have to advise when we're changing boilers now that these be fitted, if they're not there. If you don't have them, they're a good investment. Get them fitted."
You can buy a thermostatic radiator valve for £15 on the B&Q website now.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ MORE:
Warning to anyone who uses pay-at-pump fuel at supermarkets and petrol stations
DWP issues new disability cost of living payment update ahead of due date this month
Gogglebox fans emotional after Dave and Shirley's announcement
Loose Women pulled from air for breaking announcement
Married at First Sight Duka's secret career unveiled as Whitney lashes out at dinner
