Turning off a radiator might sound straightforward, but it all depends on the valves you’ve got.
With energy costs still a big focus for households, more people are looking for simple ways to stay in control of their heating. Whether you're saving money, rebalancing your system or getting ready for maintenance, knowing how to properly switch a radiator off is a small skill that makes a big difference.
How to turn off a radiator
The process of turning off your radiator is different depending on which valves you have. It’s good practice to balance your radiators frequently to ensure they all heat up at the same rate, so you will need to know how to turn them off completely before doing this. Here’s our guide on how to turn off your radiators easily.
How to turn off thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
Thermostatic valves (TRVs) are self-regulating and will help to maintain a constant temperature in your room. The manual knob is usually found to the right of your radiator and is a setting to control the hot water flow into your radiators, which causes it to produce heat. The valve will have a numbered dial to adjust the heat, so all you need to do is twist the valve clockwise all the way until it reads ‘0’ and your radiator will be off.
How to turn off manual radiator valves
Manual valves are also known as non-thermostatic valves and will not have a numbered dial, just a smaller cap. To turn your radiator off this way, turn the valve clockwise as far as it will go to completely turn off the radiator.
How to turn off lockshield valves
This is a radiator valve that has a cap screwed on the top and will not turn easily. To turn lockshield valves off, you’ll first have to unscrew the cap with a screwdriver, take off the cap and then twist the metal valve with a pair of pliers or a small spanner. Turn clockwise until you feel it come to a stop and this will turn your radiator completely off.
How to turn off a heated towel rail
A standard heated towel rail will come on and off in accordance with the central heating system and heats up via a timer. However, some heated towel rails will have straight or angled valves and some may also have lockshield valves. To turn off your heated towel rail, adjust the valves and turn in a clockwise direction until it won't turn any more, or the dial reads '0.' If you have lockshield valves, unscrew the cap, then then turn the metal valve clockwise with a pair of pliers or a spanner until it stops turning.
Now that you know how to switch a radiator off properly, the next question is when you actually need to.
When should you turn your heating off?
There’s no exact calendar date, but for many UK homes, heating naturally winds down between late March and early April, often when the clocks go forward and the days start feeling noticeably milder.
As outdoor temperatures rise, your home retains warmth more easily. That’s usually the point where you can comfortably switch off full heating and only use it when needed.
Is it OK to turn off some radiators?
It’s good practice to turn off radiators in rooms that aren’t used very often, for example in conservatories or spare bedrooms. This means that you will be saving heat and reducing your energy bills, which allows the heat from your boiler to be spread around the rest of your house more efficiently. However, you should ensure that you turn these radiators on a low heat every so often to prevent damp and keep water flowing through the pipes in the colder months.
Ultimately, it’s less about the date and more about how your home feels. If you’re not reaching for jumpers indoors, it might be time to give your radiators a rest - and now you have the perfect guide on how to do it!
Whether you’re saving energy, balancing your system or simply adjusting for the seasons, knowing how and when to turn off a radiator puts you in control of your heating. Small changes really do make a difference.
If you're looking to reduce energy use even further, take a look at our guide on how to save on heating bills for more practical ways to stay warm for less.
