TL;DR
Get business pricing on tools and workshop supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
A House Beautiful report lists eight common heating habits that experts say may make homes less comfortable or increase energy use, including blocking radiators, heating empty homes and ignoring drafts. The advice is practical, but the report does not provide independent measurements of savings or a universal estimate of how much each change could reduce bills.
A House Beautiful report has outlined eight everyday heating habits that experts say can make homes feel colder, waste energy or create other problems, including setting thermostats too high, blocking radiators and leaving heating on all day. The article offers suggested fixes, but does not quantify the savings households can expect from changing these habits.
The experts cited recommend using heating schedules that match when people are at home, rather than running the system throughout the day. Heating specialist Heatforce says raising a thermostat does not make a home warm faster; the report attributes to the company a claim that each degree above 66°F can add 10% to annual heating costs. That figure is an attributed estimate, not a savings guarantee for every household. The report suggests around 66°F while people are home and awake, with a lower setting overnight, but comfort needs and suitable settings vary.
Several of the listed habits restrict heat or let it escape. The report’s experts advise keeping furniture and curtains clear of radiators, sealing gaps around doors and windows, and using a programmed schedule to heat rooms when needed. Scott Byrom of The Energy Shop recommends leaving about six inches between furniture and a radiator. Draft excluders, letterbox brushes and sealant strips are among the fixes mentioned.
Other points concern maintenance, safety and moisture. The report says radiators with cold upper sections may have trapped air and may need bleeding; it recommends switching off the heating before using a radiator key. It also cautions that older electric blankets may lack overheating protection, and says clothes drying on radiators can impede heat circulation and contribute to dampness. The article’s eighth mistake is not fully available in the supplied source text, so it cannot be reported here.
Small Habits, Different Household Risks
The advice matters because the same heating setting can deliver different comfort depending on how heat moves through a room. Blocked radiators and drafts may leave occupants feeling cold even while a heating system is running, while schedules can help avoid heating an empty home. These are possible efficiency improvements, not evidence that a particular household will see a specified reduction in its bill.
The report also highlights concerns beyond cost. An old or damaged electric blanket can pose a fire risk, according to the safety expert it quotes, while drying laundry indoors may add moisture and increase the risk of damp or mold. Households should weigh comfort and safety alongside energy use, and follow product instructions for electrical items.
Products Worth Considering
WORX WX420L Compact Electric Circular Saw, 3 Amp, 3-3/8-Inch
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V 1/4-Inch Hex Impact Driver Kit
Greenworks 24V 18-Gauge Brushless Cordless Brad Nailer Kit with 2Ah Battery and Fast Charger
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
What the Experts Recommend
The House Beautiful article draws on comments from heating, home-energy, housing and home-product specialists. Its eight-item headline covers thermostat settings, furniture obstructing radiators, drafts, old heated blankets, all-day heating, unbled radiators and drying clothes on radiators, as well as one item not present in the supplied excerpt. The article frames the suggestions as ways to improve comfort and avoid avoidable energy use.
Some recommendations are maintenance or household adjustments rather than changes to a heating system. For radiator bleeding, the report advises turning the heating off, opening the valve with a radiator key and catching drips with a towel. Anyone unsure how to carry out maintenance safely should consult the system manual or a qualified heating professional.
“While it won’t heat your home any faster, what it will do is waste energy and therefore waste money.”
— Heating specialists at Heatforce, as quoted by House Beautiful
Savings Depend on Each Home
The report does not give its publication date in the supplied material, document a controlled test, or provide household-specific bill comparisons. The claim that every degree above 66°F adds 10% to annual heating costs is attributed to Heatforce, but the excerpt does not explain the calculation or the homes and heating systems to which it applies. Actual savings will vary with a home’s insulation, equipment, energy prices, weather and occupancy.
The supplied article text ends partway through its discussion of drying clothes on radiators and does not include the eighth mistake or the complete advice attached to that item. It is also unclear from the excerpt whether the recommendations apply equally across different heating systems and climates. The advice should not be treated as a substitute for a system-specific assessment.
Practical Checks Before Winter
The report offers no announced follow-up study or policy change. For households considering its advice, the next steps are to check whether radiators are obstructed, review heating schedules and inspect doors and windows for drafts. People with older electric blankets should check their condition and safety instructions and replace damaged products rather than using them as a substitute for fixing a cold room.
Radiator bleeding should be done with the heating switched off and according to the system’s instructions. If a radiator remains cold, a leak is present, or a household is unsure about its heating equipment, a qualified professional can assess the system. Any estimate of bill savings would require the home’s own energy use and costs.
Key Questions
What heating mistakes does the report identify?
It names setting the thermostat too high, blocking radiators, leaving drafts unsealed, relying on an old electric blanket, keeping heating on all day, neglecting radiator bleeding and drying clothes on radiators. The supplied text does not show the eighth item.
Does turning up the thermostat heat a home faster?
The heating specialists quoted by House Beautiful say it does not. They warn that setting it higher than needed can waste energy, although the report does not provide a universal bill estimate for individual homes.
How can I tell if a radiator may need bleeding?
The report says a radiator with a top section that is much cooler than the bottom may have trapped air. It recommends switching off the heating before bleeding it and using a towel to catch drips; consult the system instructions or a professional if unsure.
Is it safe to use an old electric blanket?
The report quotes a product expert warning that older blankets or those without overheating protection can pose a fire hazard. Check the blanket’s condition and manufacturer guidance, and do not use a damaged product.
Source: housebeautiful.com
