Brits are making their homes colder unknowingly with common heating mistake

13 January 2024 , 08:00

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You may be making your home colder than it should be when the heating is on (Image: Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

You could be making your home colder unknowingly and wasting warmth from your heating system - but an expert has revealed how to fix the issue quickly and easily.

No one wants to have their heating on constantly but as we shiver in the chillier months it's very tempting to keep it cranked up. However you could be unwittingly wasting the costly energy you are using to stay warm and actually making your home colder with a very easy and common mistake.

If you're finding that your home isn't feeling as toasty as it should when your heating is on, you could be guilty of making this blunder and once it's pointed out, it's annoyingly obvious. Home expert Warren Kinloch from Bathroom Deal says many people place their furniture too close to radiators and it stops their heating working efficiently by hindering heat distribution.

Is your furniture too close to your radiators? (Getty Images)

"Furniture acts as a barrier, preventing warm air from circulating freely around the room," he reveals. "To optimise heat flow, ensure that there is sufficient space between your furniture and radiators. This can allow the warm air to circulate freely and warms up the entire room more efficiently."

If this isn’t the case in your home but you're still feeling the chill when you really shouldn't be, your doors and/or windows could be to blame. Poorly sealed windows and doors lead to drafts and can offset the warmth your heating system generates.

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Warren suggests running your hand along the edges and frames to check for drafts and to use caulk or weather stripping to remedy the issue. It may actually be more cost-effective in the long-term to replace older windows and doors altogether to improve insulation and reduce heat loss.

Another "sneaky factor" many may not think of when it comes to keeping the temperature cosy is the thermostat. A misconfigured thermostat can lead to inadequate heating so it’s important to make sure they are programmed correctly and are placed out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources and drafts so accurate readings are taken and your heating is performing the best it can.

If you're one of the many home workers who struggle with cold hands while tapping away on the laptop or computer, despite the rest of you being warm, this woman’s hack could be for you. The clever tip is especially useful for those who use a mouse and involves something you probably already have kicking about in a wardrobe - a woolly hat.

Are you making your home colder than it should be because of any of the commonly made mistakes in this story? Let us know in the comments below.

Beth Hardie