A home expert has revealed the one popular home hack that it’s best to avoid if you want to keep your home warm and cosy this winter – and it makes total sense
A building expert has named the home hack that’s best to avoid as it “will not save you money on heating bills”.
With colder weather on the way and temperatures expected to drop significantly, Andy Simms, a renovation expert from MyBuilder.com has revealed the best and worst hacks for keeping your home warm more easily. The expert warned against using one hack in particular if you’re keen to have a warmer home.
He shared that the popular hack of ‘painting radiators’ won’t save you money on your heating bills, but explained that the current “colour drenching” trend, which has become a popular home decor hack, can create a ‘cosy feel’ in your home. He adds that, if you do choose to paint your radiators, it’s vital to sand them down first and then clean them using sugar soap to make sure the paint is able to stick properly to the surface.
Andy adds that before you start painting, it’s vital to ‘turn it off and open a window’. He also recommends using a primer first and opt for a paint that’s ‘meant for radiators’, as using a paint that’s made for other surfaces may lead to ‘cracking and flaking’ when the radiator heats up.
He added: “While painting radiators can look stylish, it is unlikely to save you money on your bills. There are more effective ways to make your heating more efficient. A hot water cylinder jacket, for example, is a cheap hack that costs just £20 but can realistically save you hundreds of pounds over the years.”
Andy adds that there are plenty of ‘simple steps’ you can take to help save money when it comes to heating costs.
He recommends a good first step is to ‘bleed your radiators’, to make sure that air bubbles aren’t blocking your pipework, stopping the heat from coming out properly. Andy adds that ‘good insulation’ is also important and ‘brilliant for protecting your home from both hot and cold weather’.
Andy also explains that one area that could be ‘a major source of heat loss’ in your home could be your windows – particularly if they’re older. He added that it’s best to get a professional to assess your windows to see if they’re worth upgrading for better heat retention in your home. Alternatively, another way to keep the heat in better is to get thermal curtains or blinds.