Radiators will be working overtime this week with snow, freezing rain and decidedly chilly temperatures in the Met Office forecast.

Gas and electricity costs are squeezing budgets more than ever since the energy price cap was raised again on January 1.

However, households can stay warm without paying more when radiators run more efficiently, according to a heating expert.

Stephen Day from iHeat recommends a simple 99p tool for reducing heating costs and possibly saving households hundreds on their bills.

“A heating system that is running efficiently can save you as much as 20% off of your energy bills, meaning you could save over £300 just by doing some simple maintenance,” said Day.

According to the heating pro, the easiest and cheapest way to ensure your radiators are working efficiently is by using a 99p radiator valve key to bleed your radiators.

He explained: “Over time, air can become trapped in your home’s central heating system, preventing radiators from warming evenly. This causes cold spots and forces your boiler to work harder, consuming more energy to maintain the desired temperature. The result? Higher energy bills.

“This task often goes overlooked, but for less than the price of a cup of coffee, you can make sure you get your money’s worth every time you pop the heating on.

“The good news is that bleeding radiators is easy, even for those without technical expertise, and takes just minutes to do.”