Money-saving expert shares radiator hacks and names household appliance that drains energy bills most
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has revealed a simple trick for Brits to cut their heating costs this winter using an affordable household item.
As the chilly autumn weather sets in, families across the UK are contemplating switching on their heating systems for the first time this season. One significant problem is radiators warming areas that don’t significantly contribute to increasing room temperatures, as heat quickly dissipates outdoors.
In a previous episode of his BBC Podcast, Mr Lewis suggested that households consider installing reflective panels behind their radiators. This would reflect heat back into rooms instead of allowing it to escape through walls to the outside.
He advised: “A tip for you reflective panels behind radiators. Sheets of reflective material can be placed behind radiators. Crucially this is on external wall radiators so the heat doesn’t escape. If you don’t want to pay for those then tin foil can work although it doesn’t work quite as well.”
Currently, Screwfix is offering a 4-metre roll of radiator heat reflector foil for just £5.69. Mr Lewis also shared additional advice regarding radiators.
He continued: “If you’ve got radiators in rooms that you’re not using, go and turn them off before you turn the heating on so you’re not wasting cash overheating empty spaces. Changing the flow rate on your boiler can cut gas bill by over 9% and you won’t notice the change.”
Mr Lewis has urged the public to steer clear of a ‘demon appliance’ as much as possible. He elaborated: “Do you know what the real ‘demon appliance’ is in most people’s houses – the one that you don’t want to use because it’s really expensive. Tumble dryers. You’re typically paying up to a quid per load so dry your clothes on an airer outside, to shorten the amount of time you’re using your tumble dryer, or avoid using it completely. Those who have de-humidifiers those can take some of the moisture out of it. It’s less wattage than a tumble dryer so it can be more cost effective.”
He also suggested additional ways to trim expenses: “Check your TV’s on a low energy setting too and walk around your house. Be a draft detector – what drafts can you spot as you walk around your house? And then try, if you can, to seal them up.”
During his BBC Sounds podcast, a 5 Live listener named Rob noted that his flat was becoming increasingly damp after he tried drying his laundry indoors. He queried: “If I was to buy a dehumidifier, would it be cheaper than using the heating to keep the place dry?”.
Martin responded: “Dehumidifiers take water out of the air rather than use the heating and they’re much lower wattage appliances than standard heating. So if the dehumidifier works for you, it will definitely have lower electricity bills.”
