Tin foil can help keep your house warm this winter (Image: PA)
It’s been a week of snow and ice chaos across the UK – especially in the north and Scotland, where more than a foot of snow has caused problems for households battling ice, freezing rain and frost on top of heavy .
Some parts of the country could even face staggeringly cold -20C temperatures this weekend according to the , with the temperature possible on Friday night.
And all that cold means your heating is having to work overtime to try to bring your house back to a reasonable temperature – which after two energy bill rises in a row could be costing you a lot of money.
raised energy prices £149 in October and another £21 in January, meaning it’s a bad time to have to crank the heating right now.
Everything from changes to thermostat settings is worth scrutinising this year – but there are still some things you can do once every last bit has been squeezed from adjusting all your appliances.
And one tip that works in summer and winter is using tin foil or kitchen foil behind your radiators, which experts say can help keep your rooms warmer in winter months.
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Tin foil, or aluminium foil as it’s sometimes known, works by reflecting heat in the same way foil is used on spaceships.
The foil bounces heat lost behind the radiator back into the room, saving it from going to waste in your wall.
It means that homes keep warm in winter more easily when the foil is used.
Home energy experts Energy Guide.Org advise that you don’t necessarily need to splash out on custom made or special high end radiator reflectors – a simple roll of tin foil may do almost the same job.
They said: “Specialised reflective foil, designed to redirect warmth back into your living space, is an effective strategy to conserve heat and provide insulation.
“This method is particularly beneficial for external walls, where it helps to minimise heat loss. Enhancements like shelves or fans above radiators can further help to circulate warm air back into the room.
“For a DIY approach, you can attach foil to cardboard panels and place them behind radiators, ensuring the reflective side faces the room.
“Double-sided adhesive pads can also help to secure these panels in place.”
While this is cheap and cheerful strategy, you’ll get even better results with proper bespoke radiator reflectors.
They added: “Placing foil behind radiators can reflect heat into living spaces, potentially saving on heating bills, especially effective on external walls.
“However, kitchen foil isn’t ideal as it degrades and crinkles over time. Specialised radiator reflectors like Radflek are more durable and effective.
“Research indicates these can significantly reduce heat transfer and provide real-term savings, with the amount saved varying by property type and wall insulation.
“The British Board of Agrément confirms that Radflek can reduce heat transfer by up to 45%.”