For many across the UK, the dread of turning on the heating is a seasonal reality, synonymous with soaring energy bills and often disappointing warmth. This was certainly the case for spare time writer Nicola Roy, who lives in a draughty 1900s tenement flat.
The Heating Dilemma in a Period Property
Despite cranking her radiators up, Nicola found herself constantly cold, reaching for extra layers and electric blankets. The combination of high ceilings, draughty walls, and having just one radiator per room made her heating feel like an expensive waste. The sensation, as she describes it, was akin to "setting fire to money".
This changed in December when she decided to test a product designed to maximise radiator efficiency: a radiator booster fan. The device, made by a company called Speed Comfort, promised to circulate heat more effectively, warming rooms faster and potentially reducing energy use.
How the Radiator Booster Fan Works
The principle is straightforward. The fan units attach via strong magnets to the underside of a radiator. Once the radiator heats up, a temperature sensor triggers the fans to switch on. They then work to drive the warm air that naturally rises from the radiator out into the room, rather than letting it collect at the ceiling.
Nicola ordered a set of three fans for £109.95 after using a simple questionnaire on the Speed Comfort website, which recommends the right setup based on radiator size. Installation required no tools; the fans clip on and connect to each other with short cables before plugging into a nearby mains socket.
A Noticeable Difference in Minutes
Initially planning to install it in her living room, Nicola had to move the test to her bedroom due to cable length. The results were immediate. After letting the system run for just 20 minutes with the door closed, she noticed a significant change.
"When I reopened the door, I noticed that the room felt considerably warmer than usual," she reported. Typically, her room took about an hour to feel properly warm. With the fan助攻, it achieved that comfort in less than half the time.
Long-Term Benefits and an Added Bonus
Having used the fans since the start of December, Nicola says she no longer dreads getting into a cold bed. An unexpected additional benefit emerged: faster laundry drying. On milder days, placing a clothes airer in front of the boosted radiator dried washing much more quickly.
While she notes the fans produce a slight humming noise, they are not intended for overnight use if the heating is off. The product comes with a 10-year warranty, and the primary appeal is the dual promise of enhanced comfort and energy savings. By heating the room more efficiently, the thermostat can potentially be set lower, reducing gas consumption and bills.
For those struggling with inefficient heating in period properties or simply looking to optimise their warmth, this two-minute magnet trick offers a compelling, if not cheap, solution to stay snug without dramatically inflating energy costs.
