IT’S quite literally freezing outside, which makes staying warm inside even more difficult.
Especially if you’re trying to do so without having a major impact on your energy bills.
But according to one expert, there’s a nifty rule to follow that can dramatically improve the effectiveness of your heating.
According to energy pro Matt Oberle, all you need to do is move your sofa 12 inches away from the radiator.
“You don’t need to redesign the entire room,” Matt, from Utility Rates, explained.
“Moving it 30 or 40 centimetres away (12 inches) is usually enough to restore proper circulation.
“Once the warm air has the space to rise and circulate freely, your thermostat won’t need to call for as much energy, which directly translates into lower bills.”
He went on to explain that the way heat moves around the room is “as much about physics as it is about boiler settings“.
“If you’ve got a large object, like a sofa, pressed against the radiator, you’re essentially blocking that convective airflow,” Matt said.
It means that the heat is being “absorbed into the furniture” rather than being distributed around the room – which means your heating system has to “work harder to reach the set temperature”.
The effect can also be more dramatic if you have a leather sofa or one covered in “thick upholstery” in “dense, dark fabrics”, as they act like “heat sponges”.
“They soak up the energy your boiler is generating and hold it in the material, instead of letting it move into the living space,” he said.
“From an efficiency perspective, it’s a complete waste.”
And moving your sofa away from the radiator won’t just help heat your home either – it’s more beneficial for the furniture too.
Having the back of a sofa constantly pressed up to the radiator means the fabric and frame is being exposed to “prolonged high temperatures”.
That means that wear and tear to the sofa is accelerated, while the heat also dries out the fabric and can even pose a fire risk in some circumstances.
“By allowing the radiator to do its job properly, you’re also protecting your furniture investment,” he concluded.
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it’s bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There’s not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.
