Households urged to put tin foil behind radiators from October

It was only a few weeks ago that households were desperately trying to cool down their houses by plastering tin foil in the windows. But now as winter rapidly approaches and energy bills are set to rise again in October, attention is rapidly turning to how to warm up our homes again.

Ofgem is raising energy prices by 2% on October 1, taking the average bill for a typical use household from £1,720 to £1,755. Of course, that's an average illustration - if you use more, you pay more.

And in October, the BBC reports that most households will have their heating on again regularly by the end of the month.

Everything from boiler changes to thermostat settings is worth scrutinising this year if you're worried about the cost of heating your home. But there are still some things you can do once every last bit has been squeezed from adjusting all your appliances.

One tip that works in winter is using tin foil or kitchen foil behind your radiators, which heating experts say can help keep your rooms warmer in winter months.

Kitchen foil, or 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 a 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%."