5 min readStaying cozy is a top priority in winter—whether you're curling up on the sofa or getting snug under the covers. But turning up the heating isn’t always the answer: some everyday habits can leave your home colder while pushing your bills higher.
From setting the thermostat too high to neglecting to bleed radiators, small heating mistakes can affect how warm your home feels and how much energy you use.
To help you stay comfortable without wasting energy, we asked heating experts to share the most common mistakes—and the simple fixes that can make your home warmer and your bills easier to manage.
Mistake #1: Cranking Up the Thermostat
When the chill sets in, it’s tempting to whack the thermostat up a few notches for a quick blast of warmth. But this common habit does more harm than good. “While it won’t heat your home any faster, what it will do is waste energy and therefore waste money,” say the heating specialist experts at Heatforce. “Each degree above 66 degrees Fahrenheit can add a whopping 10 percent to your annual heating costs.”
The smarter approach is to keep your thermostat at around 66 degrees when you’re at home and awake, then drop it by four to six degrees overnight. That way, you’ll stay comfortable without sending your bills soaring.
Mistake #2: Blocking Radiators With Your Furniture
When arranging furniture, it’s easy to prioritize style over function—but placing bulky pieces too close to your radiator can drastically reduce its efficiency.
“Make sure that furniture and curtains aren’t obstructing this area of your home, as heat needs to be able to circulate freely,” says Amthal Karim, head of design at Furniture & Choice. “Where space allows, move sofas, armchairs, and other large pieces of furniture away from radiators to help warm air circulate more effectively around the room.”
Scott Byrom, a home energy expert at The Energy Shop, adds: “A large piece of furniture placed against a radiator can absorb a significant amount of the heat it emits, meaning you're paying to warm the back of your sofa rather than the room. Pulling furniture just six inches away allows warm air to rise and move freely, and you'll feel the difference almost immediately.”
Mistake #3: Ignoring Drafts Around Doors and Windows
Warm air can escape through gaps around doors, windows, and letterboxes, leaving rooms colder and forcing your heating to work harder—which can push up your bills over winter.
“Many older homes with hardwood front doors will experience worse drafts in the winter as they are susceptible to expanding in heat and contracting in the cold, meaning gaps around the frame will become even wider,” warns Oliver Novakovic, head of innovation at David Wilson Homes. “To combat this, invest in a draft exclusion runner to go along the bottom of your door. You can also purchase lengths of gap sealer to run around the frame, preventing cold air from blowing in around the door frame.”
Draft blockers, letterbox brushes, and simple sealant strips are all inexpensive fixes that can help a home retain heat far more effectively.
Mistake #4: Using an Old Heated Blanket
If you’re relying on an old heated blanket to stay warm, check its age and condition. It may no longer heat as effectively, leaving you tempted to turn up the thermostat and spend more on heating.
“Older electric blankets or those without overheating protection can pose a fire hazard,” says Adele Brennan, home electrical buyer at Vonhaus. “However, there are newer, innovative electric blankets that come equipped with an automatic shut-off function.”
A newer blanket with an automatic shut-off function is a safer choice, but using one to compensate for a cold room won’t fix the underlying heating problem.
Mistake #5: Keeping the Heating on All Day
It might feel indulgent to keep the heating running from dawn until dusk, but it’s an expensive habit that can quickly inflate your energy bills. “Instead, schedule your heating for convenient times,” says Stephen Hankinson, heating expert at Electric Radiators Direct.
“For example, if you like being comfortable as you get ready in the morning, program your heating to switch on just before you wake up and then off again by the time you leave.”
This way, you’ll enjoy warmth exactly when you need it, without wasting energy. Just don’t forget to adjust your schedule when the clocks change.
Mistake #6: Forgetting to Bleed Your Radiators
It's easy to focus on simply switching radiators on and off, but regular maintenance is just as important. Bleeding your radiators is essential for keeping them running efficiently. “After a while, pockets of air can get trapped within the radiators, causing cold spots and preventing hot water from flowing through,” explains Hankinson. “The usual sign your radiator needs bleeding is that the top section is much cooler than the bottom.”
To fix this, switch off your heating system, use a radiator key to open the valve, and keep a towel handy to catch any drips of water. Doing this at least once a year will keep your heating even and effective.
Mistake #7: Drying Clothes on the Radiators
Drying clothes on radiators is common in colder, wetter months, but it can stop heat from circulating around the room. Your heating may then need to stay on longer to reach a comfortable temperature, using more energy and pushing up your bills. A clothes dryer in a well-ventilated room is a better option.
“The bigger issues are its contribution to mold and dampness within your home, as well as the inability to heat your home, so you're left with a damp, cold house throughout winter, which is costing you,” says Andy Simms from MyBuilder.com. “Instead, using a clothes drying rail or taking advantage of brighter, milder days to hang your washing outside or open windows can make a real difference. And when drying clothes indoors, using a dehumidifier is effective in keeping moisture low.”
Mistake #8: Skipping Your Annual Boiler Service
It might feel inconvenient to book in a boiler service—especially if it means rearranging your day to be at home—but skipping it can be a costly mistake, as minor issues could go unnoticed, which could reduce its efficiency.
For peace of mind, it’s best to get your service done in autumn. That way, any small problems are caught early, and you’ll avoid the risk of being left without reliable heating during the coldest months of the year.
“Having your boiler serviced annually is a great action to take to prevent boiler breakdowns, as well as improve its efficiency. It helps keep your boiler operating at maximum efficiency, consuming less fuel to generate the same amount of heat,” says Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General.
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