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A House Beautiful report identifies eight common heating habits that experts say may make homes less comfortable or increase energy use. The advice includes lowering the thermostat rather than turning it up sharply, keeping radiators clear, sealing drafts and scheduling heat around when it is needed. The report provides no independent cost analysis, and one listed mistake is not included in the supplied source text.
House Beautiful has published an expert-sourced list of eight heating habits that may leave homes colder or increase energy use, including setting the thermostat too high, blocking radiators and allowing drafts around doors and windows. The report offers practical fixes, but it does not provide a study measuring how much households can save by changing these habits.
The report’s recommendations focus on using heat where and when it is needed. Heating specialists at Heatforce say turning a thermostat much higher will not warm a home faster. They estimate that each degree above 66°F (about 19°C) can add 10% to annual heating costs; the source does not specify the calculation method or the conditions behind that estimate. It suggests keeping the thermostat around 66°F while at home and awake, and lowering it by four to six degrees overnight.
Several tips address heat circulation and heat loss. Furniture and curtains should not obstruct radiators, and Energy Shop home energy expert Scott Byrom says pulling furniture six inches away can help warm air circulate. The report also recommends draft excluders and sealing strips around doors and windows. It says programmable heating can be set to run shortly before people wake and switch off when they leave, rather than running all day.
Other listed habits include neglecting radiator maintenance, drying clothes on radiators and relying on an old heated blanket. Heating expert Stephen Hankinson says trapped air can cause a radiator’s top section to feel cooler than its bottom; the article recommends bleeding radiators annually. It also warns that covering radiators can impede heat circulation and that drying clothes indoors may contribute to dampness and mold. The supplied report text ends partway through this final point and does not include its full explanation or the eighth mistake.
Small Habits, Household Heating Costs
The advice matters because heating settings and room layout can affect both comfort and energy consumption during cold weather. If a radiator is obstructed or warm air escapes through gaps, a household may run its heating longer to reach the temperature it wants. Scheduling heat for occupied hours and addressing simple drafts may help avoid some unnecessary use, although the source does not quantify the likely savings for a typical home.
The report also touches on indoor safety and maintenance. It warns that older electric blankets, particularly those without overheating protection, can present a fire hazard. Its guidance is not a substitute for product instructions or professional advice: households should check a blanket’s condition and follow the manufacturer’s safety directions.
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Eight Habits in the Report
The supplied House Beautiful article names these mistakes: turning the thermostat too high; blocking radiators; ignoring drafts; using an old heated blanket; running heating all day; failing to bleed radiators; and drying clothes on radiators. The headline promises eight items, but the provided source material contains only seven numbered sections, with the last section cut off. The missing item cannot be verified from the material supplied.
The suggestions are attributed to heating, home-energy, furniture and electrical-product professionals quoted by House Beautiful. They are presented as practical guidance rather than findings from a controlled comparison of homes. The stated temperature and cost figures should be read as the specialists’ estimates, not as a guaranteed bill outcome for every property, energy tariff or heating system.
““While it won’t heat your home any faster, what it will do is waste energy and therefore waste money.””
— Heating specialists at Heatforce, as quoted by House Beautiful
Savings and Missing Eighth Tip
The source does not establish how much money a household will save by following the recommendations. The 10% annual-cost estimate per degree above 66°F is attributed to Heatforce specialists, but the supplied report gives no methodology, tariff, home type or other baseline needed to apply it to an individual bill.
The article headline refers to eight mistakes, while the supplied text includes only seven numbered items and cuts off during the discussion of drying clothes on radiators. The eighth item and the rest of that section are not available in the source material provided. It is also unclear whether the recommendations were reviewed by independent researchers or tested across different heating systems and climates.
Practical Checks Before Cold Weather
Readers can start by checking whether furniture blocks radiators, whether there are noticeable drafts, and whether heating schedules match the hours rooms are used. For radiator maintenance or adjustments to a heating system, follow the manufacturer’s guidance and consult a qualified professional if the work is unfamiliar.
Households considering changes should compare their own energy use and bills over time rather than assume a particular saving from the figures in the report. The supplied article offers no follow-up data or publication timetable for the missing eighth tip; that detail remains unavailable.
Key Questions
Does turning the thermostat higher heat a home faster?
Not according to the Heatforce specialists quoted in the report. They say turning the thermostat up will not make a home heat faster and may waste energy. The report suggests around 66°F while at home and awake, but comfort needs and heating systems vary.
How can blocked radiators affect heating?
Furniture or curtains in front of a radiator can impede warm-air circulation. The report recommends leaving space around radiators; Energy Shop expert Scott Byrom suggests moving furniture about six inches away.
What can a cold spot at the top of a radiator mean?
Stephen Hankinson says a radiator that is cooler at the top than the bottom may have trapped air and need bleeding. Follow the heating-system instructions, and seek qualified help if unsure how to do it safely.
Does the supplied article identify all eight heating mistakes?
No. The headline promises eight mistakes, but the supplied text contains seven numbered sections and cuts off during the last one. The missing item cannot be confirmed from the available source material.
Source: housebeautiful.com
