With the days getting colder and the nights feeling Baltic, you’ll want to find ways to stay warm for a fraction of the cost. Thankfully, The Range has you covered with ideas on how to save money on your heating.
Layering is a simple way to keep warm and one of the most obvious. However, people still get it wrong when layering their winter clothes.
Your first layer should consist of a tight, long-sleeved shirt and leggings. Having these tighter layers close to the skin will help to wick away sweat as you go about your day. Your second layer should be made from wool, polyester, and other warmer materials. This could include a second shirt, a jumper, favourite pair of jeans or winter trousers. You can leave it at two layers if you’re only pottering about the house, but for those extra cold days or trips outside, add a third or fourth layer consisting of a jacket and coat.
With the weather being cold and damp, putting your freshly washed clothes on the radiator is an easy way to dry them faster. But laying clothes on your radiator can block warm air from circulating around the room. It’s the same if you have furniture blocking your radiator. Anything directly in front of the radiator will absorb the heat, meaning your room won’t warm up or will take a long time to do so. Pull your furniture away from the radiator by an inch or two, and use airers for laundry.
To prevent cold air from entering your nice warm living room or bedroom through gaps in doors or windows, lay a draught excluder and use heavy curtains like thermal curtains. These will trap the cold air trying to seep through and prevent it from flooding your space whilst preventing the warm air from escaping.
This might seem obvious, but it can be easy to turn on the heating and forget just how much heat is being wasted by heating rooms that don’t need it. If you can, turn off the radiators in spaces you don’t need to use for extended periods, like the bathroom, kitchen, or spare room. Ideally, you’d want only to heat the room you’re sitting in, although it’s understandable if you want to warm up your bedroom for a bit before retiring for the evening!
As tempting as it is to have the heating on over 20 or 25 degrees, especially during particularly cold snaps, the hotter your heating, the more energy you’re using. Turning the thermostat down by even one degree can save you money. According to the World Health Organisation, 18 degrees is the ideal temperature if you’re healthy and dressed appropriately, but if you have someone who’s old, young, or unwell at home, 20 degrees should be ideal.
One of the best parts of winter is snuggling up with a mound of blankets and relaxing with a piping mug of hot chocolate. So, when all else fails, and you want an excuse to hibernate, you can grab your favourite thick blanket, fill a hot water bottle, and watch the TV whilst cradling a mug of something hot, curled up in bed or on the sofa.
You can browse the articles below or check out our Energy Saving collection for more ways to keep your space feeling cosy for less.
