A PROPERTY investor has revealed six free hacks you can do this autumn, to make your home warm and cosy, for no extra cost.
Summer now appears to be well and truly over, and many of us have likely been struggling to keep warm this week as we are battered with a deluge of wind and rain.
It may be tempting to turn the heating on at the first sign of autumn, however, with the energy price cap having risen from October 1, and the Winter Fuel Payment scrapped for millions, Britons will be doing all they can to keep heating costs down.
With this in mind, a man known only as @thatpropertyguy online, took to TikTok to share the six things he does to keep his home toasty, without spending any extra cash.
The property enthusiast revealed that one simple trick you can do to increase the energy efficiency of your home is to bleed your radiators.
Bleeding radiators releases trapped air that can prevent hot water from circulating, preventing your radiators from giving out as much heat as they should.
Therefore, bleeding them makes your radiators work more efficiently, meaning that you won’t have to turn your heating up as much.
To bleed your radiators turn off the heating, open the bleed valve. listen for the air escaping, and then close it again.
Opening the oven door after cooking will allow the hot air to escape and heat up your home for no extra cost.
Make sure the oven is turned off though, so you aren’t wasting any energy.
The TikToker revealed that another simple step you can take to heat up your home is to close your blinds and curtains.
He explained that this helps to keep the heat in, making your home more energy efficient.
Putting tin foil behind your radiators is another great way to keep in the heat, according to the property enthusiast.
He explained that this is because the foil reflects radiator heat back in to the room preventing it from escaping through the wall.
You probably already have tin foil in your kitchen cupboard, but if not , you can pick it up from the supermarket for around £1.75.
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
Leaving a gap between your radiator and sofa is another simple trick you can do to make your home warmer.
This is because it allows heat to circulate freely around the room, whilst also preventing the sofa from getting damaged.
Finally, shutting all doors in the house behind you is another easy thing you can do to improve the heat in your home.
This is because it prevents heat from escaping from rooms, meaning you shouldn’t have to turn up your heating as high.
The TikToker’s video has likely left many people impressed, as it has racked up over 2.2 million views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts.
One person said: “I didn’t know the foil trick, that’s ace!”
A second person said: “My house is like an icebox, so I’m now trying the foil trick.”
A third person said: “I always leave my oven door open after use, I thought I was the only one to do this”
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