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Sunlight: Your Free Heating Ally

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/28/sunlight-your-free-heating-ally.html
  Published in House and Home on Friday, November 28th 2025 at 23:41 GMT by Daily Express

Keeping Your Home Cozy on a Tight Budget: A Comprehensive Summary

The Express’s feature “How to warm your home for free or cheap” (link: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/property/2138963/how-to-warm-home-free-cheap) is a practical guide for anyone looking to beat the winter chill without breaking the bank. The article is divided into a series of actionable tips, each backed by evidence and user anecdotes. Below is a detailed rundown of the main points, the supporting arguments, and the supplementary resources the article points to for further help.

1. Make the Most of Natural Light

• Sunlight as a free heater

The article opens with the simple principle that sunlight is a natural source of warmth. By opening blinds and curtains during the day, especially on south‑facing windows, homeowners can let in the sun’s rays and use that passive heat to raise room temperatures. The article cites a small experiment: a 30‑minute window opening during a sunny morning was enough to warm a room by 3–4 °C, significantly cutting down on the need for active heating.

• Dark colours absorb more heat

A lesser‑known trick is to use dark‑coloured curtains or window treatments. The piece explains that dark fabrics absorb heat rather than reflect it, turning the fabric into a miniature heat‑retaining layer. Combining this with the sun‑capturing blinds offers a simple “double‑layer” strategy that can keep living rooms and kitchens comfortably warm.

2. Layering Up – Inside and Outside

• Clothing layers

Outside the article’s central focus on home heating, there is a brief, but useful sidebar reminding readers that clothing layers are a cost‑free way to stay warm. The Express recommends wearing multiple thin layers rather than a single thick coat. This approach allows the body’s natural heat to be distributed more evenly and prevents overheating when moving indoors.

• Bedding and blankets

The article stresses the importance of using double‑layer blankets and adding extra throws over mattresses. It cites a study from the UK National Health Service showing that a well‑insulated mattress can save up to 10 % on heating bills. The Express suggests adding a “fluffy” blanket to the bed before going to sleep, as the body’s residual heat can then be absorbed by the blankets during the night, reducing the need for a hot shower in the morning.

3. Re‑thinking Heating Sources

• Low‑energy devices

An essential section of the article explains that certain low‑energy appliances—like kettles, slow‑cooker rice pots, or instant‑pot steam ovens—can generate significant heat. By cooking meals that require only one appliance for a longer period, homeowners can use the heat that would otherwise be wasted. For instance, boiling water in a kettle for a tea break can warm a small kitchen space for an hour or two.

• Portable electric heaters

The Express gives a balanced view of electric heaters. While they can be expensive, the article advises buying a small, high‑efficiency unit (rated at 700–1000 W) and using it in a single room rather than a whole house. A quick test on a 2 m² living room showed a cost of roughly £0.15 per hour for the heater plus a small additional energy tax. Using it only during peak cold times can keep the overall expenditure minimal.

• Radiator maintenance

Another key tip is to keep radiators and their vents clear of obstructions. The article points out that blocked vents can reduce the radiator’s efficiency by up to 30 %. By cleaning radiator covers and ensuring that the floor space around each unit is free of furniture or rugs, the heat output is maximised, and the heating system does not need to work harder.

4. DIY Insulation Hacks

• Draft stoppers

Drafty windows are a major culprit in winter energy loss. The article suggests filling gaps with “draft stoppers” made from old towels or foam strips. It offers a step‑by‑step guide on how to make a simple rubber‑band draft stopper: cut a towel, fold it into a long tube, and tuck it around the base of a window. These inexpensive measures can reduce heat loss by up to 10 % in small apartments.

• Door snakes

For rooms with single‑pane doors, the Express recommends a “door snake” or “door draft stopper” that can be purchased for less than £5 or made at home from fabric and a wooden dowel. By placing this at the bottom of the door, the cold drafts from the hallway are blocked.

• Thermal curtains

Beyond the earlier discussion of dark curtains, the article provides instructions on how to add a thermal lining to existing curtains. By gluing a thin layer of reflective aluminium foil to the back of the curtain, homeowners can create a “thermal barrier” that reflects heat back into the room.

5. Smart Heating Strategies

• Thermostat timing

The article points readers to a related Express feature on how a programmable thermostat can save up to 15 % on heating costs. It recommends setting the thermostat to 18–19 °C during the day and allowing it to drop to 15 °C at night. When people are away, the thermostat should be set to 12–13 °C to avoid overheating.

• Use of radiators in “hot‑spot” rooms

The guide advises that radiators should be positioned in rooms that are used most often. If a bedroom is rarely used, it can be set to a lower temperature or even turned off completely, thereby focusing heating power where it is needed most.

6. Additional Resources

At the bottom of the article, a list of internal links is provided for readers who want deeper dives into specific topics:

1. “How to reduce energy bills – step‑by‑step” – A comprehensive cost‑saving guide that includes energy audit tips.
2. “The ultimate guide to insulation” – Detailed advice on choosing insulation materials for walls, floors, and roofs.
3. “Solar panels: Are they worth it?” – An exploration of the upfront costs versus long‑term savings of solar power installations.

These links reinforce the article’s theme of sustainable, budget‑friendly solutions.

7. Bottom Line

The Express’s article is essentially a toolbox of inexpensive or free measures that can dramatically reduce a home’s heating load. The main pillars are:

• Leveraging natural heat (sunlight, dark curtains).
• Smart appliance use (kettles, slow‑cooking).
• Proper radiator and draft maintenance.
• DIY insulation fixes (draft stoppers, door snakes).
• Intelligent heating scheduling (programmable thermostats).

By combining several of these strategies, homeowners can keep indoor temperatures comfortable while keeping the electricity meter reading relatively low. Whether you live in a loft with a single window or a suburban house with multiple radiators, the article offers a range of tactics tailored to various budgets and building types.

Overall, the piece underscores that a lot of heat management can be achieved without expensive retrofits or high‑end gadgets. Simple behavioural changes, a bit of ingenuity, and the smart use of existing household appliances are the most powerful tools in a homeowner’s arsenal against winter chills.