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A House Beautiful report gathers expert advice on eight common heating habits that may increase energy use or leave rooms less comfortable. The advice includes adjusting thermostat settings, clearing space around radiators, sealing drafts and maintaining equipment; the report does not quantify typical household savings.
A House Beautiful report has outlined eight common heating habits that experts say can waste energy, raise household costs or make rooms feel colder. The guidance focuses on everyday changes, including thermostat use, radiator airflow, drafts and routine maintenance, but does not provide a measured estimate of savings for households that adopt them.
The report identifies setting the thermostat too high and running heating all day as habits that can increase energy use. Heating specialist experts at Heatforce say raising the thermostat does not make a home warm faster. They also estimate that each degree above 66°F could add 10% to annual heating costs. The source does not explain the calculation behind that estimate or specify the homes and conditions to which it applies, so it should be treated as an attributed claim rather than a universal bill forecast.
Other suggestions address how heat moves through a home. The report advises keeping furniture and curtains from blocking radiators, sealing gaps around doors and windows, and scheduling heating for the times people need it. Energy expert Scott Byrom, of The Energy Shop, says moving furniture about six inches from a radiator can help warm air circulate. The report also recommends bleeding radiators when their tops are cooler than their bottoms, and cautions against drying clothes on radiators because it can obstruct heat flow and contribute to dampness.
The final item concerns old or damaged electric blankets. Adele Brennan, a home electrical buyer at Vonhaus, warns that older blankets or models without overheating protection can pose a fire risk. The report favors newer blankets with automatic shut-off features, while stressing that a blanket does not solve an underlying problem with a cold room. It lists eight mistakes overall, though the supplied source excerpt ends partway through its discussion of clothes drying and does not include the full eighth item.
Small Habits, Household Heating Costs
Heating bills are affected not only by the temperature setting but also by whether warmth stays in a room and circulates effectively. A blocked radiator or persistent draft can leave a household feeling cold even while the heating is running. That can prompt people to raise the thermostat or extend heating hours, increasing energy use without necessarily addressing the cause of discomfort.
The report’s suggestions are practical checks rather than a guarantee of lower bills. Sealing a gap or changing a heating schedule may help, but results depend on the property, heating system, weather and energy prices. The article supplies no comparative bill data or independent testing, so readers should not assume a particular percentage reduction.
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The Advice Behind the Eight Mistakes
House Beautiful says it consulted heating and home specialists for advice on habits that can affect comfort and energy use. Its examples range from thermostat settings and heating schedules to radiator upkeep and electrical blanket safety. The recommendations are aimed at ordinary household use rather than a specific heating technology or a particular country’s energy tariff.
Several suggestions concern basic maintenance: check for drafts, keep radiators unobstructed and look for cold spots that may indicate trapped air. The report describes bleeding a radiator by turning off the heating, opening its valve with a radiator key and catching drips with a towel. Anyone unsure how to maintain their system should follow the manufacturer’s instructions or seek qualified help rather than forcing a valve or attempting unfamiliar work.
““While it won’t heat your home any faster, what it will do is waste energy and therefore waste money.””
— Heating specialist experts at Heatforce, as quoted by House Beautiful
Savings and Missing Source Details
The supplied report does not establish how much a typical household could save by following the advice, and it gives no bill comparisons or testing methodology. Heatforce’s estimate that each degree above 66°F may add 10% to annual heating costs is attributed to the company’s specialists; the source does not give a baseline, location or other assumptions needed to apply that figure to an individual home.
The source excerpt also cuts off during the clothes-drying section and does not show the full description of the eighth mistake. It is therefore not possible to report that item or assess all eight recommendations from the provided material. The report does not identify a publication date in the supplied text.
Checks Homeowners Can Make
Readers can start by reviewing their thermostat and heating schedule, checking that curtains and furniture do not cover radiators, and inspecting doors and windows for noticeable gaps. If a radiator is warm at the bottom but cold at the top, the report suggests that trapped air may be the cause; follow the heating system’s instructions or consult a qualified heating professional if unsure.
For electric blankets, check the manufacturer’s guidance, age and condition, and do not use a damaged product. The source offers no scheduled follow-up or new data. Whether these steps lower costs will depend on the home and its heating system, so households would need to compare their own energy use and bills over time.
Key Questions
What heating habits does the report say may waste energy?
The report discusses setting the thermostat too high, blocking radiators, leaving drafts unsealed, using an old electric blanket, running heating all day, neglecting radiator bleeding and drying clothes on radiators. The provided excerpt does not include the full eighth item.
Does turning up the thermostat heat a home faster?
Heatforce’s specialists, quoted by House Beautiful, say it does not. They say a higher setting can use more energy, but the report does not provide a universal estimate for individual households.
How can I tell whether 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 opening the valve with a radiator key, and catching drips with a towel. Follow the system’s instructions if you are unsure.
How much money will these changes save?
The source gives no typical savings figure or bill comparison. Any effect will vary with the property, heating system, weather, energy prices and the household’s existing habits.
Source: housebeautiful.com
