As winter draws closer, energy costs have become a pressing concern for many households, particularly with winter price caps rising last month. Taking preventative measures now can help boost your home’s energy efficiency and, consequently, make a considerable impact on your bills.
To assist homeowners in preparing for the forthcoming cold snap, financial experts at Moneyboat joined forces with Stephen Day, a Heating Engineer from iHeat, to provide invaluable guidance on essential home improvements. One crucial strategy highlighted by Stephen is to position tin foil behind your radiators, particularly if you struggle to feel the full benefit from them. He explained: “This will help to reflect some of the heat back towards your room and is cheaper than reflector foil, just make sure to use sturdy double-sided tape to keep it adhered to the wall.”
“If you’re in a real pinch, you can also use cut-up old crisp packets – just make sure to give them a thorough wash before using.”
How to boost radiator heat
Tin foil is available on the high street for as little as £1, meaning a modest outlay could result in substantial savings by eliminating the need to turn up your thermostat.
Stephen has also stressed the significance of ensuring your home is free from draughts, as these will lower the temperature and potentially drive up bills as you increase the central heating.
He advises: “Cracks and openings around doors, windows, and baseboards can easily let heat escape, but these can be easily remedied for a few pounds.
“For windows, you can use silicone-based sealant to repair any gaps in the seals around the frames, while for cracks in walls or baseboards, it’s best to use plaster or wood-based filler that you can lightly sand once dry.”
In addition, insulating keyholes and letterboxes will further assist in stopping cold air from penetrating your home.
“Small openings like keyholes and letterboxes can let in a surprising amount of cold air, particularly when the wind picks up, so look at covering them with insulating tape or use a letterbox brush,” Stephen explains.
Available for under £5 at most hardware stores, these simple fixes can prove remarkably effective — particularly if your front door opens directly into your living room.
“In a pinch, you could also use a piece of cardboard cut to the dimensions of your letterbox or keyhole and some heavy-duty tape to form a DIY flap that can block out smaller draughts.”
See more of the stories you love from Daily Express and find us easily in Google by making us a Preferred Source. Free and easy-to-do, just click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
