Are you fed up with people telling you to put on a jumper when it’s cold? Well, that’s not the only way to stay warm on a chilly day. Take a look at some of the cheapest ways to heat a room and the improvements you can make to keep it warm.
If 2020 wasn’t bad enough, 2021 through 2023 decided to give us a kick in the teeth with inflation and rising energy bills. And although there are plenty of steps we can take to reduce our heating costs, sometimes we may need to take more drastic measures such as heating only one room. But what is the cheapest way you can go about it?
Let’s take a look, plus, we’ll go over some other ways to help keep you warm in the winter.
The cheapest way to heat a room
So, which is the most cost-efficient way to go about heating a room?
Gas central heating
There’s a good reason why many houses have gas central heating installed – it’s the cheapest option. Radiators are generally energy-efficient and produce plenty of heat with minimal wastage. If you’re looking to heat a room for minimal cost, then crank the radiator right up.
Now, turning your heating up across your whole home isn’t always what you want and is likely to cost you far more. If you can, you’ll need to turn the thermostats down in all of the rooms that you don’t use and turn it up for the one that you do.
If your radiators don’t have thermostat valves, you can buy them for around £13 each. But the more you buy, the cheaper they are. A competent DIYer could fit them, but failing that, you will need to call a plumber to come and fit. Although this will cost you, it should save you a lot of money in the long term.
If you want to be fancy, you could opt for a smart radiator thermostat. These can be controlled by your phone and are better for choosing precise temperatures in each room. But these aren’t for everyone as they are far more expensive than a standard thermostat.
Also worth reading –
If you have a separate hot water tank, take a look to see if it’s cheaper to be left on all the time
Oil-filled heaters
If you don’t have central heating, an oil-filled heater could be a suitable alternative. Although they are generally a little more expensive to buy than an electric heater, they are also far better at retaining heat. So once they reach the desired temperature, they can continue to release warmth cheaper than their electric counterpart. However… they will be more costly to heat up in the first place.
Oil-filled heaters are suitable for large rooms and quiet to run, making them ideal for bedrooms. They can be pretty heavy, though, so they aren’t always convenient to move around.
Electric heaters
If you have a small room you want to heat quickly, then an electric heater should do the job. These are generally light and portable, so they can be moved from room to room if needed. But the cost of electricity isn’t cheap, so it shouldn’t be used for prolonged periods.
You may see more expensive electric heaters on the market that promise they are more efficient and cheaper to run. But this isn’t the case. A 2300W heater will produce the same heat and cost the same to run if it costs £20 or £200. Remember – energy can’t be created or destroyed, only converted from one source to another.
Which is the cheapest method to heat a room?
In the vast majority of cases, gas central heating is the cheapest option. The price for a unit of gas is often a quarter of that of electricity. Of course, that’s not always going to be a solution. If you have a larger room to heat, look towards an oil-filled heater, as the slow release of energy will be more efficient. An electric heater in short bursts will be enough for smaller rooms. But be careful, it can become very pricey if you use it for longer periods.
What else can you do?
Now you know the cheapest way to heat a room, what else can you do to save money?
Change your energy supplier or tariff
Unfortunately, this isn’t as useful as it once was. Due to price rises and the energy price cap, most suppliers now have very similar prices for both gas and electricity.
However, some companies do offer some decent incentives. For example, Octopus Energy offers new customers £50 credit to their accounts, plus runs free electricity schemes and may even pay you to reduce your energy consumption. Find out more about Octopus Energy.
Also worth reading –
Why not look at cheap ways to reduce condensation on your windows?
Keeping a room warm
Now you know your options when it comes to heating a room, how do you get it to stay warm? There’s no point in spending a fortune on warming a room up if you’re going to let it all escape.
Reflect the heat
Although radiators tend to be an efficient way of warming a room, some heat can be lost, especially if attached to an external wall. Installing reflective foil is a cheap way to bounce the heat right back into the room. If you take care when fitting, you’ll hardly notice it’s there. You can usually buy 5 meters for under £20.
You could also hang a shelf above a radiator. This will stop heat from rising into the ceiling and help spread it into the room instead.
Thermal wallpaper/liner
Yes, this is a thing. Decent thermal paper tends to be around 4mm thick and is a great way to stop heat escaping during the winter while keeping rooms cooler in the summer. The paper can be painted on and also helps to resist mould and damp formation.
It’s not the cheapest, with a 15sq. m roll costing between £120 and £150. However, it’s estimated to offer an estimated energy saving of up to 36%.
One of the top brands is Wallrock, which is available from Amazon or from stores like Screwfix.
Fit thermal curtains
Windows tend to let lots of heat escape, even if they are double-glazed. Curtains are great for slowing down heat loss, but thermal curtains are even better. And the good news is you can often find them for the same price as regular curtains. There are plenty of styles available, so you don’t need to compromise on looks.
But don’t forget to open them when the sun is shining. You don’t want to keep the heat out on a sunny day!
Or to go a step further…
Bubble wrap on your windows
Yes, that’s right. The mix of polythene and air is an excellent insulator and will help to keep warmth in, especially if you have single-glazed windows. You can fix bubble wrap to a window by using a small amount of water and it should stay up for long periods.
You can buy bubble wrap cheaply from Amazon or look at my post about fixing bubble wrap to windows to find out more.
Insulate your attic
Like windows, your roof is another culprit for allowing heat out of a room. However, some well-placed loft insulation can drastically cut down heat loss. It’s cheap to do and almost anyone can fit it.
Carpet the floor
If you’re not looking up, then look down. Bare floors or tiles can be very cold. If you want to retain heat better, a carpet will help. But carpets aren’t always cheap, then some large rugs can also do a job.
Fit a draught excluder
Even if you have all of the above fitted, the gaps around door frames are another way for a room to lose heat. Draught excluders cost just a few pounds and can be installed in just a few minutes.
Keeping yourself warm
If the above options aren’t possible, or you still feel the cold, then your last option is to heat yourself. Apart from wearing more clothes, what else can you do?
Hot water bottle
Placed under a blanket, a hot water bottle is a great way to warm yourself. Some can be heated by adding boiling water, whilst others can be put in the microwave.
Heated throw
A heated throw is great to wrap around yourself when sitting on the sofa. The heat transfers to you, so very little is lost, meaning they’re far cheaper than heating a whole room.
Electric blanket
If you need heating up in bed, why not opt for an electric blanket? They work similarly to throws, although they tend to go underneath you rather than around you. Most blankets will cost around 5 pence per hour to heat. Or take a look at my post in more detail about the cost of using an electric blanket.
Further reading:
Have a look through some of the best energy-saving gadgets.
