If you’re planning to dry your clothes on the radiator this weekend, you might want to think again.
A British Gas engineer has warned that this common practice could lead to a host of issues, including health risks and potential fire hazards.
Many people resort to using radiators for drying clothes, as they offer a warm surface that can speed up the drying process, particularly during the colder months when outdoor drying isn’t an option.
However, despite its convenience, hanging your clothes on radiators can pose problems for your home, your budget, and even your health.
Joanna Flowers, a service and repair engineer at British Gas, explains why it might be time to reconsider this habit:
Overworking your boiler
Radiators are designed to heat your home efficiently by evenly distributing warmth. However, hanging wet clothes over them disrupts this process.
Joanna explains that the clothes act as a barrier, forcing radiators to work harder to heat the room. This means boilers have to pump out more energy to compensate, increasing energy usage and speeding up wear and tear on crucial components, reports the Mirror.
Over time, this strain can reduce your heating system’s efficiency, potentially leading to expensive repairs or even shortening your boiler’s lifespan.
Reduced heating efficiency and increased costs
The thermostatic controls on radiators may detect localised heat increases caused by obstructed airflow and shut down prematurely. This leaves some areas of your home cold, forcing you to unnecessarily crank up the thermostat.
According to an expert, this inefficiency not only squanders energy but also puts additional pressure on your heating system. The engineer warns that draping wet laundry over radiators hampers the effective circulation of heat.
This insulation effect compels your boiler to use more energy to maintain a cosy temperature, thereby escalating utility bills.
While it might seem economical to dry clothes on radiators, it often results in a surge in heating costs due to the increased strain on your system. Obstructions can also cause uneven heating throughout your home, leaving some rooms chillier than others.
Homeowners often react by cranking up the boiler temperature, exacerbating energy wastage.
Furthermore, the requirement for supplementary solutions like dehumidifiers or electric fans can further inflate energy bills. To optimise heat flow, the British Gas employee suggests using an airing rack positioned in front of a radiator, rather than directly on it.
Condensation, damp, and humidity problems
Joanna points out that when exposed to heat, particularly from radiators, wet clothes release a significant amount of moisture into the air. This added humidity often settles on cold surfaces such as walls and windows, where it can lead to condensation.
Over time, this can result in damp patches, peeling paint, stained walls, and even structural damage like wood rot.
Encouraging mould growth
The moist conditions created by indoor clothes drying can foster the growth of mould, including harmful types such as Aspergillus fumigatus.
This fungus is known to cause diseases in humans and can be particularly dangerous for those with weakened immune systems due to illness or medication, according to WebMD.
Mould can develop on walls, ceilings, or behind furniture, leading to unsightly marks and structural damage. Over time, it can weaken materials like plaster and wallpaper, resulting in costly repairs, warns Joanna.
Airborne spores released by mould can worsen respiratory problems, asthma, and allergies, especially in children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. In extreme cases, exposure can result in fungal infections like aspergillosis.
To mitigate these risks, Joanna advises against drying clothes on radiators and recommends ensuring adequate ventilation. Using a dehumidifier could also be beneficial.
Clothing damage
Drying clothes directly on radiators exposes them to high heat, which can shrink fabrics, distort fibres, and cause discolouration. Delicate and dyed items are particularly susceptible to this damage, reducing their longevity and increasing replacement costs, adds the engineer.
Extended exposure to high heat can also lead to stiff textures or heat stains on fabrics, potentially necessitating additional cleaning or rendering the clothes unwearable. For optimal results, an airing rack that allows even airflow around your garments is suggested.
Fire risks
According to British Gas, while traditional radiators pose a low fire risk, drying clothes directly on them can increase the chances of overheating fabrics or nearby combustible materials. This is particularly true for space heaters or older heating systems lacking modern safety features.
Dust build-up on radiators can also become a fire hazard when subjected to high heat, especially when combined with synthetic fabrics. To minimise fire risks, it’s advised to avoid drying clothes directly on any heating appliance and ensure your radiators are clean and in good working order.
Unpleasant odours
Drying clothes on radiators can also lead to unpleasant smells as moisture can get trapped in thicker fabrics like towels or jumpers, resulting in musty odours. This is particularly common when airflow is limited.
These smells can linger even after washing, often necessitating additional cleaning to eliminate. To avoid this, Joanna suggests ensuring adequate ventilation and allowing airflow around drying clothes by avoiding direct contact with radiators.
Using a drying rack near, rather than on, the radiator will help clothes dry more evenly and efficiently.