Keeping our homes warm in winter can be hard, but thankfully there are plenty of heating hacks. You can make your home warmer through insulation and easy DIY solutions in addition to using central heating.
However, many of the popular hacks can create permanent changes to spaces such as pipe lagging and fitting thermostatic radiator valves. Most renters won’t be able to make such additions to their homes as they could risk breaching tenancy agreements. But, there are some easy ways renters can make their spaces warmer and keep their rental deposit by not changing anything in the property.
Experts at comparison site Uswitch have recommended simple changes that are renter-friendly. They explained: “The key is to make your fixes temporary, so they can be removed without damaging the underlying fabric of your house.”
Their main piece of advice for renters is to use soft furnishing to your advantage. These can easily heat up spaces when added into homes.
They said: “Focus on smart use of soft furnishing – fit heavy or thermal curtains for your windows and place rugs on bare floors, for example.”
The experts also recommended renters use removable foam strips or draught snakes to block gaps in doors and windows. They added: “And be smart about closing internal doors to keep warmth in each room.
“Cold spots in rooms can be isolated from warmer areas by placing freestanding shelves or room dividers.”
Five ways renters can warm up their homes
Soft furnishing – Try to put up heavy or thermal curtains and put rugs down on any wooden floors. Removable foam strips and draught excluders can stop heat escaping. Use furniture to block cold spots.
Add window insulation film – The transparent film will peel off the windows when you leave your property and act as a layer of insulation between the film and window pane. It keeps homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Plus, it is relatively inexpensive at £8.15 from B&Q.
Chimney balloons – The inflatable device can be put into unused chimneys to stop cold draughts coming in and prevent warm air from escparing. Most DIY stores stock these for under £20.
Radiator reflector panels – These help to deflect heat back into the room instead of it being absorbed by the wall the radiator is attached to. Uswitch advised renters: “Choose cut-to-fit sheets that simply slot behind radiators without requiring fixing to the wall.”
Lag pipes – Renters can still insulate their pipes to help reduce the risk of them freezing over winter. But, renters have been advised to use easily removable foam insulation when doing so.
Many renters don’t want to risk breaching agreements by making holes in walls. These heating hacks can be installed with removable adhesive hooks, suction cups and magnetic strips. It will ensure the property isn’t changed, making the hacks renter-friendly.