As winter continues, many of us are doing all we can to keep our indoor spaces warm and cosy. Energy bills are still high, so it is important to feel the benefit when putting the heating on.
You don’t want any heat escaping from your property or draughts making rooms feel colder than they should be. Thankfully, there is one simple change you can make to your home that experts say can make rooms up to 33% warmer. Heat loss is a huge problem for many of us, but this hack can stop warm air from escaping.
Experts at comparison site Uswitch recommend adding thermal curtains or lined blinds to your home. The simple addition can have a major impact on the amount of heat lost.
They detailed a study from the University of Salford, which estimated that simply drawing blinds or curtains during winter can reduce heat loss by 15-17%.
While, Salford’s Energy Hub revealed that blinds and shutters can have a positive effect even on energy-efficient double-glazed windows.
The experts found heat loss was reduced by up to 33% depending on the type of blind or shutter used. Cutting heat loss by using blinds or shutters can also have a positive effect on energy bills, as the room will require less heat to reach a comfortable temperature.
Thermal curtains work by using several layers of material to reduce the transfer of heat through windows. You can buy thermal curtains or you can even add a thermal lining to your existing ones.
Thermal blinds provide benefits in both the summer and winter. They can trap heat in your home during the winter and then reflect sunlight from outside in the summer to keep the room cooler.
How to use thermal curtains and blinds
There are some key things to remember before purchasing your new thermal blinds or curtains. Uswitch recommend choosing a multi-layer thermal curtain to maximise the amount of heat retention.
If you don’t want to pay for a whole set of new curtains, consider buying thermal linings. These can be sown onto the curtains you already have.
They added: “When choosing blinds, look for extra features – side-opening zip roller blinds for large windows or vertically slatted blinds that can be partially opened or closed as required.”
Curtains should be hung a few inches above the window and overlap the window on either side. Make sure they hang at least a few centimetres below the window and overlap in the middle.
Fit them as close to the window as possible. These tips will ensure they work their best by keeping out cold draughts and preventing heat loss.
They added: “To get the most from your curtains or blinds, make sure they’re open when needed – for example, during winter days when the sun is shining – and closed when you need to either trap heat inside (typically at dusk) or to keep the sun out during hot days.”