With the UK facing chilly January temperatures, households across the nation are searching for cost-effective ways to heat their homes.
With that in mind, home expert Nancy Emery from Tap Warehouse has shared her essential tips for keeping costs low while staying cosy, reports the Express. “People are understandably and unavoidably going to have the heating on more and for longer periods of time,” she said.
“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.”
Her first piece of advice is to reposition furniture, such as moving it slightly away from radiators. “It may seem obvious, but moving your sofas just an inch or two away from your radiators can make a big difference,” she said. “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.”
Invest in good quality curtains
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In terms of cooking, one of Nancy’s tricks includes utilizing leftover heat: “This will make use of otherwise lost heat and make your room feel toasty and warm.”
Finally, she advises investing in home furnishings that can assist with heat retention.
To ensure your home is warm and comfortable, it’s crucial to use your curtains wisely. Invest in good quality, thick curtains that are floor length as these are more effective at retaining heat.
When the weather is sunny during the day, keep the curtains open to allow natural heat to enter your home. However, as soon as the sun sets, make sure to close all the curtains in your home to trap the warmth inside and minimize drafts from the windows.
Keep your jeans off the radiator
(Image: Getty)
Another important thing to remember, as Nancy points out, is to never cover radiators with damp clothing. She advises against this practice saying, “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.”
She explained: “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.”