IF you always struggle to warm up but are reluctant to use your central heating, fear not, we’ve got you covered.
Thanks to a savvy man who lives in the Alps, where temperatures plummet to -9C, here are the tricks you need to try to say goodbye to the bitter chill.
From using house plants to keep warm to handy 10-minute tricks that ‘trap heat’, you won’t have to worry about wearing your hat, gloves and scarf inside anymore with these handy hacks.
Steven Gunner, an expert at Ski Vertigo, has revealed the tips seasoned winter pros swear by – and you’ll want to test them out ASAP.
Steve, who lives in Val D’Isère, a ski resort in the French Alps, explained that rather than wasting money on inefficient heating, you should heat your home smarter, not harder.
Steve stressed: “Surviving winter without sky-high bills is about heating smarter, not harder. By combining these expert-approved techniques from Ski Vertigo, you can maximise warmth while minimising costs.
“Whether it’s layering heating sources, sealing drafts, or embracing humidity, these tried-and-tested strategies will keep you cosy – no matter how cold it gets outside.”
Firstly, according to Steve, it’s important that you layer your heating, not just your clothes.
Steve explained: “One of the biggest mistakes people make is relying solely on central heating.”
Instead, Steve, who deals with sub-zero conditions daily, recommends a multi-layered heating approach.
Rather than cranking up one source of heat, he suggests combining different methods, which include radiant heat, such as using heated blankets or heated mattress pads at night to warm your body directly rather than overheating the entire house, as well as zoned heating, which includes space heaters in key areas (like your workspace or lounge), to allow you to stay warm without heating unoccupied rooms.
Additionally, he also swears by thermal curtains, which “trap heat inside, preventing the warmth from escaping through windows.”
As well as this, Steve also shared his 10-minute trick to retain heat.
He claimed that it takes just ten minutes to “trap heat efficiently and keep your home warmer for hours”, which you can do with these three super simple methods.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
Firstly, close doors to unused rooms to concentrate heat where it’s needed.
Secondly, draft-proof doors and windows with simple weather stripping or DIY solutions like rolled-up towels.
And finally, reverse your ceiling fan (if you have one) to push warm air downward, redistributing heat effectively.
In addition to this, Steve stressed the importance of heating yourself, not the room.
He highlighted: “Heating an entire house wastes energy, but keeping your body warm is far more efficient.”
As a result, he recommended the following pro techniques – base layers, wool and DIY hand warmers.
When it comes to layering up, Steve advised: “Base layers are your best friend – opt for moisture-wicking thermal tops and leggings to trap body heat.”
Whether it’s layering heating sources, sealing drafts, or embracing humidity, these tried-and-tested strategies will keep you cosy – no matter how cold it gets outside
Steve Gunner
He also claimed that “wool beats cotton”, as he suggested: “Wool socks, sweaters, and blankets retain heat better than cotton alternatives.”
Not only this, but with Steve’s DIY hand warmer hack, all you’ll need to do is fill a sock with uncooked rice, microwave it for 30 seconds, and you can enjoy instant warmth.
But that’s not all, as Steve also got candid on the unexpected power of humidity.
Steve advised: “Increasing humidity can make your home feel warmer by up to 3°C without turning up the thermostat.
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Heating “the human not the home” means you warm yourself instead of turning on the heating and heating the whole house.
This can save money on your heating bill and means you don’t have to sit in the cold.
- USB gloves – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Heated insoles – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- USB hand warmers – initial cost £15, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Electric gilet – initial cost £50 (including battery pack), cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Microwaveable wheat bag – initial cost £4, cost to run less than 1p per hours
- Reusable hand warmers – initial cost £5 for a pair, cost to run less than 1p per hour
“Use a humidifier to maintain a comfortable 40–50% humidity level.
“Boil water or leave the bathroom door open after showers to release steam.”
He also claimed: “House plants act as natural humidifiers while purifying the air.”
If you’ve tried all of that and still want more, Steve also recommended investing in energy-efficient heating.
He suggested considering programmable thermostats that adjust temperatures based on your schedule, preventing unnecessary heating when you’re asleep or away, as well as radiator reflectors that push heat back into the room instead of letting it escape through walls.
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