The distinctive musty, toasty smell when radiators fire up in winter is caused by dust heating up on the radiators, not by the boiler or metal getting hot, and the buildup can also increase heating costs.
One Reddit user, u/ok-pin7345, asked the social media platform why they can always smell the heating coming on. They said: “My friends think I’m nuts for this, but I can smell when the heating is on. It’s not a strong smell, but I can always notice it, especially when I’m close to a radiator. I just want to know it’s not some placebo or something similar.”
In response, u/foxhill_matt replied: “You need to dust behind your radiators. You’re smelling hot dust.” Other users echoed the explanation, with u/strong_mushroom_6593 adding: “I love that smell! Nice hot dust.” u/mdl8922 said: “yes if the place isn’t clean. Duster will sort that out.”
Dust Can Cost You Money
According to BestHeating.com, dust behind radiators can affect their ability to work properly, meaning the heating must run for longer to achieve the same warmth. The fine layer of grey dust can prevent heat from escaping, forcing radiators to work harder.
BestHeating.com said: “As well as looking better than a dirty one, keeping your radiator clean and free from dust and dirt can actually help to keep your heating costs down. Dust in between the fins of a convector radiator can prevent heat from escaping, which will mean your radiators have to work harder to warm your room.”
Cleaning Tips and a Hairdryer Trick
The company advises cleaning radiators at least once a year and keeping on top of dust buildup, suggesting it be part of a daily or weekly cleaning routine. It added: “You may not become a millionaire overnight, but a few minutes here and there all add up and could lead to a big saving on the cost of your home heating over the lifespan of your system.”
For those without the right vacuum nozzle attachment, BestHeating.com recommends using a hairdryer to free trapped dust. It said: “Believe it or not, but a really simple way of getting the dust out from the inside and down the back of your radiator is to use a hairdryer. Just point the nozzle of your hairdryer into the grooves at the top of your radiator and turn it up on to the highest setting. That should help you to get a lot of the leftover dust down and out from in and behind your radiator – Just be sure to place a suitable sheet or towel down on the floor before you begin.”
