Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has shared a simple curtain mistake that could make heating work harder and cost more this winter. In a recent episode of his ITV programme, he explained that many homes have radiators by windows, where long curtains can droop down in front of the heater.
Lewis warned this could stop a home from warming up effectively. "One really important thing - your curtains should be behind the radiator, not in front of the radiator," he said. "Or then the radiator is just heating the back of the curtains."
When to open and close curtains
Lewis also explained the best times to open and close curtains in cold weather. When the sun is out, radiating energy shines through the windows and into the home, heating it up. "So you want the curtains open," he said. "As soon as it gets dark, you're shutting them, because you want to trap that heat energy inside your house. That's what tactical curtains means."
Energy sustainability expert Professor Richard Fitton, who appeared on Lewis's show, explained how Venetian blinds can be positioned to keep heat in. He said the key is to look at how the slats are oriented when the blind is closed. If the slats slope with the top end towards the window and the bottom end towards the inside, "that's bad because the heat is going up and towards the cold air". If positioned in the reverse direction, hot air from inside the home is redirected back into the home. "The difference between the two is about 14 per cent," he said.
Electric heaters vs central heating
Lewis has also advised on whether central heating or individual electric heaters are more cost-effective. He urged people to "heat the human, not the home", suggesting it is better to focus on keeping yourself warm rather than heating the entire property if only one or two rooms are in use. For those who work from home or spend most of their free time in one room, he suggests an electric heater could be cheaper than switching on central heating.
A statement on MoneySavingExpert reads: "Electric heaters are efficient at converting energy into heat, and can be a cost-effective solution if you're heating just one room for a short period of time. They give off heat immediately, but equally, as soon as you switch them off, the heat disappears.
"If you're heating a larger space and want it to remain warm for longer, you'll likely be far better off using central heating. There are lots of different types of electric heater, including convector, halogen and fan heaters, but a typical one uses around 2,000 watts. At October Price Cap rates, it would cost about 53p to run for an hour. In comparison, a typical 24-kilowatt gas boiler and radiator system would cost about £1.91 an hour in gas if operating continuously at full output."
