As energy costs continue to rise, households nationwide are seeking methods to maintain warmth in their homes without activating the heating and driving up their bills. While contemporary insulation and central heating systems undoubtedly provide warmth, the latter can prove quite costly, prompting many to explore alternative solutions.
One time-honoured Victorian-era technique offers an ideal way to heat your property without switching on the heating, and it remains just as practical today as it was more than a century ago.
The overlooked Victorian method
According to My Home Improvements, a prominent authority on home improvements and energy efficiency, this straightforward approach was a mainstay in Victorian households well before central heating became widespread.
Victorian properties were famously prone to draughts and to address this without squandering expensive coal, occupants would rely on a combination of heavy curtains, door drapes, and 'pelmets' to retain warm air indoors.
The essential components of this overlooked technique include thick floor-length curtains with pelmets - also referred to as valances - positioned on top, which should be installed not only at windows, but also beside doors connecting to colder rooms.
How to apply this Victorian heating method in a modern home
The final component involves using draught excluders at doorways. The specialists recommend fabric 'sausage dog' excluders or substantial door drapes, which were commonplace in numerous Victorian homes.
Discussing this Victorian technique, a spokesperson for My Home Improvements said: "Many homeowners underestimate just how much heat escapes through windows and doorways. The Victorians didn't have central heating, yet they managed to keep their homes warm with these simple, effective methods.
"Heavy curtains, door drapes, and pelmets might seem old-fashioned, but they're an incredibly efficient way to reduce heat loss and keep your home cosy-without increasing your energy bills."
Practical steps to reduce heat loss
- Install thick, lined curtains over windows to reduce heat escaping through the glass.
- Fit a curtain or thermal blind over your front and back doors to block draughts.
- Use a pelmet above your curtains to trap rising warm air inside the room.
- Place draught excluders at the base of doors to stop cold air creeping in.
Reviving this simple method to warm your home can reduce heat loss while also keeping down your energy bills.
