Faced with a fresh increase in energy costs, households across the UK are rediscovering a clever Victorian-era hack to combat soaring winter heating bills.
The Price Cap Rise and a Historical Solution
The financial pressure on families intensified when the energy price cap rose by 2% on October 1, 2025. This adjustment pushed the average annual bill for a typical household on a standard variable tariff to £1,755. In response, many are looking to the past for solutions, reviving a method known to the Victorians as portières.
Experts at Plumbworld recommend hanging heavy door curtains across draughty internal doorways or behind front doors. A spokesperson explained the science behind the method: “Victorian radiators were modest compared to modern heating systems, so every method to conserve heat was important. In today’s homes, a heavy curtain can trap the warmth you’ve already paid for, lifting the temperature in a room by 1–2°C without turning the thermostat higher.”
Avoid Costly Radiator Mistakes
This simple curtain trick can be made even more effective by avoiding common radiator errors. Specialists at Only Radiators issued a stark warning about the habit of drying clothes on radiators. They stated that this practice blocks the radiator's convection cycle, forcing the boiler to work harder while the room stays cold.
“Your radiator is rendered completely inefficient and it's costing you mega-bucks,” they said. “The central heating hates it and your bank account isn't any better off either.”
The High Cost of Neglected Radiators
Further advice from UK Radiators highlights that proper radiator maintenance is crucial for financial savings. Households are being urged to inspect their heating systems to avoid squandering up to £600 annually in elevated energy bills and avoidable repairs.
Common yet costly problems include obstructed heat circulation and radiators that haven't been bled. While these issues may seem minor, they can collectively add hundreds of unforeseen pounds to yearly heating expenses, creating significant financial strain for families already wrestling with steep energy costs.
