The UK is grappling with chilly January weather, prompting thousands of households to seek ways to efficiently heat their homes without incurring high costs. Nancy Emery, a home expert at Tap Warehouse, shared her top tips for cost-effective heating, reports the Express.
She explained: “People are understandably and unavoidably going to have the heating on more and for longer periods of time. However, effectively heating your home shouldn’t be a financial strain in an already money-tight month.
“There are ways you can retain heat in a room and avoid heat escaping which all add to your home’s efficiency while we ride out these plummeting temperatures. Many of which don’t cost anything at all, it’s just a case of making a few changes in the room.”
Re-organise your furniture
One of her key suggestions is to rearrange your furniture, particularly moving pieces away from radiators. Emery advised: “It may seem obvious, but moving your sofas just an inch or two away from your radiators can make a big difference. Many people have their sofas right up next to their radiators, but this can actually stop the heat from escaping from your radiator as it’ll just get absorbed into whatever is blocking it.”
Make the most of cooking
Another tip involves making the most of your oven’s heat. To make sure the warm temperature lingers after cooking, she suggested leaving the oven door open.
Nancy said: “This will make use of otherwise lost heat and make your room feel toasty and warm.”
Invest in your furnishings
Lastly, she touches on investing in furnishings as a way to enhance heat retention in your home. Ensuring you’re utilising your curtains effectively can significantly enhance the warmth of your home.
Investing in high-quality, thick curtains – ideally floor length – can help retain heat. During sunny days, keep them open to allow heat into your home but as soon as the sun sets, ensure all curtains in your home are closed to trap the warmth inside. This will also minimise drafts from your windows.
Never cover radiators
One thing Emery strongly advises against is drying damp clothing on radiators. She explained: “Drying wet clothes on radiators will waste precious energy and heat and can prevent your room from getting warm. People often place wet towels, jeans and bed sheets on radiators in an attempt to dry them quicker when it’s too cold to hang washing outside, but this can actually do more harm than good.
“Placing these items on your radiators will block the heat from escaping, therefore preventing your room from heating efficiently. Doing this can also release moisture in the air which can cause mould and mildew which can be harmful.”