A plumbing expert has revealed the interior design mistakes that are costing homeowners money on their energy bills. From putting sofas in front of radiators to using aesthetically-appealing but poorly designed covers, there are a number of common pitfalls that could make central heating systems less cost-effective, he said.
Mark Ingram, technical gas and plumbing tutor at Engineering Real Results, said: “Radiators aren’t always the most appealing things in the room, but they are often essential, especially at this time of year when the temperatures drop. Despite this, it’s quite common for people to want to hide them away.
“Over the years I’ve seen people putting furniture such as sofas in front of them, or hiding them with poorly-designed covers, which can block heat and reduce a radiator’s efficiency. In older homes it’s common to have radiators under windows.
“This isn’t a bad thing, but if your windows have long curtains, consider how much heat is likely to get lost behind them when you draw them for the evening. Shorter curtains that sit above the radiator are better for ensuring heat isn’t trapped behind them once they are drawn.”
As well as ensuring your radiators are free to heat a room effectively, where you position your thermostat can also make a difference to your energy bills. Mr Ingram explains the best place to install a thermostat is in a room that’s well-used, such as the living room.
He said: “You want your thermostat to be placed in your most-used room because this will usually be your warmest. If you place it in a cold spare room or a hallway this will mean it measures a lower temperature and will tell your boiler to work harder to heat your home unnecessarily, thus pushing energy bills up.
“It should also be away from any artificial sources of heat such as fireplaces or radiators. The same can be said for sources of colder air, such as draughts from the front door. Ideally you want your thermostat to be placed away from extreme fluctuations in temperature and about 5ft off the floor to give the most accurate reading.”