As a severe cold snap grips the nation, a British Gas energy expert has revealed a remarkably simple five-second trick to help warm your home without touching the thermostat.
Freezing Temperatures Trigger Weather Warnings
Temperatures across the UK have plummeted, with some regions experiencing chills of -10°C and below. This has led the Met Office to issue an amber weather warning for Scotland, while six regions in England are under a yellow alert. Significant snowfall has blanketed areas including Birmingham, prompting millions to switch on their heating for the first time in months.
The Five-Second Oven Heating Hack
Jessica Rawstron, a smart energy engineer with British Gas, suggests a clever way to utilise wasted heat from your oven. The method is straightforward: after you finish cooking, simply open the oven door and allow the residual warmth to circulate into your kitchen.
"Once dinner comes out of the oven, we all close the door again. But why waste that heat?" said Jessica. "Leave the oven door open and let the heat transfer slowly into your kitchen. It’ll help keep your house warm while you eat."
She importantly adds a crucial safety note: "And, naturally, keep the kids and pets away from the door."
Further Snow Forecast for the UK
The helpful hack comes as forecasters predict more disruptive snow is on the way. The Met Office has active weather alerts for snow across eastern and northern England, parts of Wales, and Scotland for today, January 6, and into tomorrow.
Data from WX Charts indicates heavy snowfall could hit at a rate of 2.7cm per hour around 3am on Wednesday, January 7, followed by 2.4cm at 6am. Further significant snowfall of up to 3.7cm, alongside 4.9mm of rain, is modelled for around midnight on Wednesday.
The Met Office forecast for tomorrow states: "Another cold day with a mixture of rain, sleet and snow across the north. Drier in the south with sunny skies, before rain, sleet and snow moves in this evening."
Looking ahead from Wednesday to Friday, the outlook remains grim: "Staying cold with frontal systems pushing in from the west. A mixture of rain, sleet and snow will move across the country at times with a risk of strong winds."
