Household energy bills are set to rise by 4 per cent from October 1, with the average bill expected to reach £1,723. As temperatures drop, Brits will soon switch on their heating, adding to costs. To help get the most out of heating without turning up the thermostat, Alex Woods at Victorian Plumbing has shared seven DIY tips.
Use radiator reflector foil instead of tin foil
“A common reason radiators fail to properly heat a room is that heat can escape through walls. Radiator reflector panels are specifically designed to counteract this as they reflect heat from the back of a radiator back into a room. With more heat retained in the room, less energy is needed to achieve a comfortable temperature,” says Alex.
“Radiator reflector sheets are simple to install: start by measuring the size of the desired radiator, cut the sheet to size, and then carefully slide the sheet between the wall and radiator.”
Alex warned: “People often use tin foil as a cheaper alternative to radiator reflector sheets, but kitchen foil lacks the insulating properties of specially designed sheets. This means it likely won’t reflect heat as effectively, wiping out any short-term savings through higher heating bills.”
The radiator hairdryer trick
“Over time, dust accumulates behind radiators, with the fins in the centre or rear trapping dirt. These layers of dust stop heat from going into the room efficiently, which in turn increases the amount of energy needed to heat the room,” Alex says.
“A quick and simple way to dislodge dust from your radiator is by using a hairdryer. Using the highest blow setting, point the nozzle down the back or inside of your radiator, and place a towel on the floor underneath the radiator to catch any dust.
“For the hairdryer trick to work, it is crucial that the radiator is turned off and allowed to cool before you start.”
Open and close curtains at specific times
“Keeping curtains open during the day allows sunlight to provide natural warmth. Closing them at night helps retain the heat and keep out the cold. This can reduce the amount of additional energy needed to heat the room with radiators,” he says.
“During the day it is important to keep any curtains or blinds open as much as possible. When the sun has set, close your curtains fully to help retain heat.”
Leave the oven door open
“After you have finished using your oven, a lot of residual heat remains that can be harnessed to warm up your home. If safe to do so, consider leaving the oven door open after use and let the heat transfer into your kitchen,” Alex advises.
“When you have finished cooking with your oven, and it has been turned off, simply leave the oven door fully open, allowing the hot air to circulate and not go to waste.”
The toilet paper draught test
“Checking for draughts in your home helps identify key areas where draughts need to be blocked. If draughts aren’t addressed, they increase the amount of energy needed to heat your home by letting cold air in,” says Alex.
“Take a strip of toilet paper and hold it around window edges, external doors and gaps around skirting boards. If the paper moves when the heating is running, you may have found a draught that is allowing warm air to escape.”
Draught proofing
“Once you have identified any drafts in your home, draft proofing is an important next step. Failing to reduce draughts means more cold air entering your home, increasing the energy needed to achieve a comfortable temperature,” Alex says.
“For draughts entering through gaps in doors, a cheap solution is a simple draught excluder that will trap cold air flowing under a door. In the case of external doors, the keyhole is a common area that can cause a draught. Attaching a keyhole cover can help mitigate this issue.”
Move furniture away from radiators
“For radiators to warm a room effectively, the heated air needs to flow throughout the space. Furniture placed in front of radiators blocks this natural airflow, meaning your heating system has to run for longer, increasing energy costs,” says Alex.
“Move any furniture, especially larger items such as sofas and armchairs, so they are not placed directly in front of the radiator and hot air can flow effectively.”
It comes as household energy prices are set to soar in January, with a typical annual bill predicted to climb by £276, the BBC reports. The forecasted 16% increase would hit millions of households at the coldest time of year, marking the biggest rise in bills for four years. The Prime Minister told the BBC he doesn't think it is “an overstatement” to say we face another energy crisis this winter amid the additional January spike. The boss of energy supplier EDF, Simone Rossi, warned the UK is “walking into a second significant energy crisis after the one we experienced just four years ago”.
