A serious cold snap has hit the UK this week with temperatures falling below freezing in much of the country. With winter well and truly here, countless households are likely looking for ways to keep warm.
If you’re among the millions cranking the heating and trying to get the most bang for your buck, there is one heating hack you need to ignore. According to Saga Home Insurance, almost half (47%) of Brits have used unconventional heating hacks to try and save money. Some of these methods may be fine and safe, but fire safety experts are warning against others because they increase the risk of a house fire.
One of the riskier hacks that has gained popularity is placing tinfoil behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room. This hack is all over social media, but Andrew Topping, a firefighter with 26 years experience, warns it can be dangerous.
He said:
“Kitchen foil can oxidize and degrade over time and will lead to smouldering or burning at high temperatures if not replaced.”
He added: “These hacks gain traction because they seem simple and cheap, but what social media doesn’t show is the danger behind them.”
If you want to try and reflect heat back into your room, it’s important to use the right tools.
Andrew said that rather than tinfoil, people should ensure they are always using a specially designed radiator reflector. These radiator reflectors will be more efficient than tinfoil and much safer too – they are built for purpose and will help heat your home without putting your family at risk.
Anna Thunstrom, Saga’s Head of Home Insurance, said: “Despite fires only making up around 2% of home insurance claims, they’re often the most expensive and damaging event that can occur in the home, averaging over £10,000 per incident.”
