In winter, we need heating to keep our apartment at a comfortable temperature and not have to wear two sweaters or sit under a blanket all the time. However, heating can often be costly. However, there is a simple way to reduce your heating bills. It’s a cheap and eco-friendly radiator trick.

How to cut bills

If you’re struggling with high heating bills and would like to reduce them this season, you can reduce your heat loss. There’s a really simple way to do this. Because heat from radiators often escapes through poor building insulation or leaky windows. For this reason, you need to look for solutions to boost your heating. The solution we will offer you is becoming increasingly popular and is spreading rapidly through the internet. Yet you only need two simple things for it.

The aluminium foil trick

Would you believe that plain tinfoil can help? HVAC technician at AirConditionerLab Josh Mitchell explains that the idea behind this method is simple. Aluminum foil reflects heat. When the foil is placed behind the radiator, the heat that would otherwise be absorbed by the wall is reflected back into the room. As a result, more heat is retained in the room and the operation of the radiator will therefore be more efficient. It’s a really simple and above all affordable way to improve heating efficiency.

━━ ( Source: he gong /  Unsplash+ )

How to install the foil

First of all, it is a good idea to prepare a piece of cardboard or a thin polystyrene board in addition to the foil. Then simply cover the prepared board or cardboard with aluminium foil so that the shiny side faces outwards. You then just attach the ready-made panel to the wall behind the radiator and make sure that the foil is facing the radiator. The panel can be glued on with special polystyrene glue or adhesive tape. It is important that the foil does not touch the radiator directly and that there is a few centimetres of space between the two for air circulation. This is the only way to allow optimum heat reflection back into the room.

Efficient heating

If you want to make the heating of your apartment or house even more efficient, it is advisable to check that all radiators are vented before the heating season starts. This is because air in the system also reduces heating efficiency. Curtains should not block radiators when heating, as they block airflow. It’s also a good idea to install thermostatic valves on your radiators to ensure that you can heat each room as much as you like. The greatest heat is usually needed in the living room. The kitchen doesn’t need as much heating as it is used for cooking. The bathroom can be heated for evening hygiene time only and the bedroom can be kept at a steady minimum.

It’s also a good idea to check that your windows and doors are well insulated. If you find that they don’t, you don’t need to replace the windows with new ones and find better doors straight away. It’s enough to install sealing strips to prevent warm air from escaping the room. If you follow all these recommendations, you will increase heating efficiency and reduce energy costs. Don’t forget to regularly maintain the entire heating system. This will ensure not only optimum performance but also a longer service life.