To increase the rendering of the radiators, a thorough cleaning and a dusty targeted behind the valve is enough: 10 minutes of work, a microfiber cloth and at least 2 steps allow you to recover up to 15% efficiency. There are no chemicals, just attention and constancy. This little trick, often underestimated, translates into a concrete saving on the bill and in a more uniform heat throughout the house.
Many think that the maintenance of radiators is limited to seasonal washing and the classic sprinkling on external surfaces. In reality, the crucial point is precisely the “behind-valve” area, the one where dust and labor accumulate silently, compromising the circulation of hot air. It is like wearing a coat on a stove: there is heat, but it cannot spread.
The practical test is simple: after eliminating the hidden layer of dust, there is immediately a more regular issue, with the radiators that reach the ideal temperature in less time. Tested on a medium -sized domestic system, exposed to the north, the improvement was evident already from the first ignition.
Because the sprinkling behind-the radiators’ valve makes the difference
The functioning of the radiators is based on the convection: the cold air descends, warms up passing through the fins and then dates back to spreading heat. However, if the powder accumulates, this natural flow is hindered. It is a bit like having a river with dry branches that block its course: the water still finds a passage, but it flows more slowly and with less strength.
The targeted cleaning behind the valve avoids this. Few regular passes allow to:
- reduce heating times;
- better distribute the heat throughout the room;
- lighten the effort of the boiler;
- lower the overall consumption.
After all, who has never noticed a high but warm warm radiator at the bottom? Often the cause is not only the air to be purged, but also the hidden dust.
Necessary for effective cleaning
There is no need to turn into test plugs. A few practical and simple tools are enough, easy to find at home or in the supermarket:
- a thin microfiber cloth;
- a long and narrow brush;
- a vacuum cleaner with thin spout;
- warm water and a little neutral soap.
The ideal is to combine cloth and brush: the first captures the largest dust, the second insinuates itself into the closest spaces. The vacuum cleaner completes the work, avoiding the dirt dispersed in the air.
Quick steps for an optimal rendering of radiators
After collecting the necessary, just 5 simple practical moves are enough to give new life and greater rendered to radiators:
- Turn off the heating and wait for the radiators to cool.
- Gently remove the visible dust with the cloth.
- Insert the brush behind the valve and between the fins, sliding the dirt down.
- Immediately suck with the thin spout to capture the residues.
- Pass a damp cloth to finish and leave everything perfectly clean.
All this requires less than a quarter of an hour, but the effect feels immediately: more heat with less energy.
Errors to be avoided in maintenance
Sometimes, in haste, small mistakes are made that compromise the result.
Among the most common:
- Clean to still hot radiators (risk of burnt scalds and powder);
- use too much water, which can cause rust;
- ignore the area behind-valve, thinking that it is secondary;
- Sprinkle only on the surface without sucking.
It’s a bit like washing your hands without soaping them: they seem clean, but I’m not really.
When to do this cleaning
The best time for the dusting behind-valve is at the beginning of the cold season, before lighting the heating permanently. In particularly dusty or pets houses, it is advisable to repeat it every 2 months. Such simple maintenance also prevents accumulations that, in the long run, can reduce the duration of the radiators.
Think about it: a few minutes of attention today can mean months of comfort and a slightly lighter wallet tomorrow.
There is no need to invent new strategies: just a cloth and a little constancy to transform the warmth of the house into a full and enveloping embrace.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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