Plumbing expert’s hack to make your house more efficient this winter
A plumbing expert has shared a simple hack to make your house warmer this winter.
If you have found your radiators aren’t giving off much heat or they feel cold on the top half and warm on the bottom half then you may need to bleed your radiators.
This is relatively simple and can be done yourself with a radiator key and cloth.
You need to check if you have a sealed or opened system and ensure the heating is turned off before opening all the radiator valves including thermostatic radiator valves.
Using your radiator key, put it into the valve and twist it until you feel any air or water coming out.
Lynn Beattie, aka @mrsmummypenny on Instagram said: “If air comes out, keep it open until water starts coming out. Then shut it by tightening it. All air should be removed from the radiator now. “
You can then repeat this process on all radiators in your house before turning on the heating and allowing the system to heat up.
What is the Household Support Fund?
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the Spring Budget and for a third time in November to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP has confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
The help you can get varies depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or to cover costs of your weekly grocery shop.
If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.
And, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
Every council will provide the means they feel best suits their area.
How do you log in to Universal Credit?
Universal Credit claimants can see their online account by logging in via the gov.uk website.
You’ll need your username and password – which are the same ones you had to set up when you first applied for benefits.
If you have forgotten your login details, you can put in a request to reset your username or password by entering your email address.
If you have an online Universal Credit account, you can also sign in via gov.uk verify.
In a worse case scenario, you can always try calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 (Textphone: 0800 328 1344).
You can also get in contact via NGT text relay on 18001 then 0800 328 5644.
There’s a Welsh language helpline available on 0800 328 1744 too.
