Heating expert warns of common winter mistake pushing up your energy bills
This winter, a heating expert is urging UK households to avoid this simple but costly mistake. Sam Carter, radiator expert at Appliances Direct warns that blocking radiators with furniture reduces heat circulation and efficiency, which can push up energy bills, shorten radiator lifespan, and even create fire hazards. Many don’t realise that it’s not just furniture that’s causing problems either. Overhanging curtains, children’s beds and cots, and festive decorations can all hamper performance and pose safety issues. Ideally, aim to leave a good 30cm between a radiator and any large pieces of furniture to optimise air flow, but more space is always better if you have room.”
Impact on bills
Through autumn and winter, households use around 75% of their annual heating energy, so any drop in radiator efficiency hits hardest during these six months. Even a modest 10% loss, the kind caused by a sofa, heavy curtains or a Christmas tree blocking a radiator, can add almost £40 to the average winter bill. In homes with electric heating, the same inefficiency can cost as much as £75–£150 over winter alone.
7 things you shouldn’t put in front of your radiators this winter
With Christmas around the corner, Sam Carter, radiator expert at Appliances Direct explains,
“Through autumn and winter, households use around 75% of their annual heating energy, so any drop in radiator efficiency hits hardest during these six months.
“Even a modest 10% loss, the kind caused by a sofa, heavy curtains or a Christmas tree blocking a radiator, can add almost £40 to the average winter bill.. In homes with electric heating, the same inefficiency can cost as much as £75–£150 over winter alone.”
Don’t block radiators with furniture or furnishings
- Sofas, armchairs and storage
“If it’s comfy to sit on, it’s probably absorbing heat, so always leave space behind large seating and soft furnishings. This allows warm air to circulate around the room rather than getting needlessly trapped in cushions.”
“Chests of drawers or storage units will also alter this convection process. Moving these types of items just 15-30cm away from a radiator can improve heat flow, wasting less energy in the process.”
- Overhanging curtains or blinds
“Swap long drapes for shorter ones or tuck them neatly behind the radiator. Heavy curtains act like a blanket over radiators, trapping warmth where you don’t need it. Just be wary of anything that covers the top of the radiator, preventing warm air rising freely. Fabric absorbs heat quickly, and this is especially true for any backed or black-out curtains where the material is thicker or layered. ”
Never place children’s cots or beds next to radiators
- Children’s cots
“Cots for babies and young children should never be placed near to a radiator. NHS guidance explains that babies can overheat more easily and can’t regulate their body temperature as well as older children or adults. If a cot is too close to a radiator, the heat may become dangerous during the night, increasing the risk of serious health problems or fatalities. Keep cot placement far from any heat sources, it must be much further away than the usual 30cm recommended for other items in the home.”
- Beds
“Avoid positioning sleeping areas right next to or in front of radiators, especially in smaller rooms. It reduces heat circulation and can make one side of the room much colder.”
“It’s not just heat efficiency though that’s affected when beds sit next to radiators. While you’re asleep, it’s easy to roll over and end up leaning against a hot surface. Even if the heating is off or low when you go to bed, it can kick in overnight as the temperature drops or come on early in the morning ready for waking. If you are leaning against the radiator in your sleep, you may not notice the heat until you wake up with painful burns.”
Avoid placing Christmas decor by your radiator
- Festive decorations
“Many Christmas decorations are made from flammable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard or fabrics: therefore they should be kept away from heat sources such as radiators or open fireplaces. NFCC data shows that fires in the home are 10% more likely during December and 53% more common on Christmas day.”
- Christmas tree placement
“Real trees will dry out much faster if they are near a heat source like a radiator, meaning you could spend Christmas day with a less than healthy looking tree in your living room. Whether real or artificial, trees still block airflow and create safety risks when placed too close. Stick to the 30cm furniture rule for Christmas trees as a starting point.”
“If your room is small and it’s difficult to leave a larger gap between your real tree and the radiator, make sure to check water levels in the base regularly and water it daily. Christmas trees drink around 2-3 pints each day, and this becomes even more important in warm spaces.
- Christmas presents
“Large gifts or piles of smaller Christmas presents cause altered heat distribution, making your heating systems work harder to warm the room. Christmas is expensive enough as it is, without the addition of a larger than necessary energy bill. What's more, you might not know what’s inside wrapped gifts and nobody wants a melted selection box!”
Why is blocking a radiator a bad idea?
Radiators primarily heat a room through a process called convection, where they warm the air immediately around them, which then rises and circulates throughout the room. Placing large items like a sofa in front of a radiator blocks this airflow, and heat gets trapped and absorbed by the furniture or items that are blocking it. This reduces the warmth circulating in your room, and can mean your system has to work harder for longer to keep your home at your desired temperature, leading to higher bills.
Even small adjustments like these can improve circulation and performance, helping households stay warmer for less, and avoiding unwanted accidents and injuries.
For further radiator guidance, visit Appliances Direct radiator guides.
