Households with venetian blinds have been told that closing them the 'wrong way' could cause significant heat loss during autumn and winter. A small adjustment can help prevent valuable heat from escaping, according to an expert on BBC Morning Live.
With forecasts predicting 'bitterly cold' October weather and temperatures expected to dip below 10C for most of the UK, households will soon notice a chill creeping into their homes, especially if there are weak spots or problem areas going unfixed.
Which way should blinds face?
During a recent segment on the BBC show, finance expert Iona Bain was shown a simple change that could help anyone with venetian blinds keep more heat in at home. Energy efficiency expert Professor Richard Fitton explained that it does indeed matter which way you open and close your blinds.
"There are a couple of ways to close venetian blinds," Professor Fitton told Iona on the show. "You can close them pointing up or down, and there is a specific way that performs better."
Why pointing down is the wrong way
He added that there is typically a radiator found under most windows in UK homes, and this is where the problems can quietly go unnoticed. Pointing the blinds 'down' is the 'wrong way' to stay warm at home, Professor Fitton says.
This is because the blinds leave a clear row of 'gaps' at the bottom of each slat, giving the rising heat from the radiator a direct path towards the cold window behind it. The fix is to simply twist the other way.
Closing your blinds to face 'up' is said to block this channel of escaping air. In fact, the expert added that this method may also help to reflect more heat into the room itself.
Scientific evidence behind the claim
Professor Fitton said the difference has not just been measured by feeling; there is scientific evidence. He claims that homes lose 25% more heat from their radiators if the blinds are closed the 'wrong way'.
He added: "If you open or close [the blinds] the wrong way, it can be worse than having the blind not there at all." The demonstration was given inside Salford University's purpose-built Energy House.
Other ways to make homes feel warmer in winter
- Add thermal curtains
- Consider adding rugs to rooms with cold floors (wood/laminate/tile)
- Check lesser thought-of areas around the home for droughts (loft hatch, chimney breast, keyholes, letterbox etc.)
