Energy price increases took hold again in January, and the struggle to keep the house warm remains an ongoing battle with the winter chill still showing no signs of letting up.
But experts have told homeowners to look to the past for a great way to keep your home cozy without cranking up the thermostat.
Central heating only became widely used in the 1970s and 1980s. But the way the Victorians kept warm in an age with no central heating or insulation can save you cash on your fuel bills in this day and age too.
Victorian homes were draughty and they relied on coal fires to heat them. However they also employed other methods to keep warm without wasting coal.
According to My Home Improvements, a leading expert in home upgrades and energy efficiency, they would rely on a combination of heavy curtains, door drapes, and ‘pelmets’ to trap warm air inside, reports the Express.
Floor-length curtains with pelmets were placed at windows, but they were also hung over doors which led to some of the home’s colder rooms.
Draught excluders were also used at these doors, with the experts suggesting people in the modern world could use fabric ‘sausage dog’ excluders or thick door drapes, which were a feature in many Victorian homes, to keep warm.
Commenting on this age-old method, a spokesperson for My Home Improvements said: “Many homeowners underestimate just how much heat escapes through windows and doorways. The Victorians didn’t have central heating, yet they managed to keep their homes warm with these simple, effective methods.
“Heavy curtains, door drapes, and pelmets might seem old-fashioned, but they’re an incredibly efficient way to reduce heat loss and keep your home cosy—without increasing your energy bills.”
How to apply this Victorian heating method in a modern home
The pros have revealed how you can adapt this Victorian-era trick for your home:
- Install thick, lined curtains over windows to reduce heat escaping through the glass.
- Fit a curtain or thermal blind over your front and back doors to block draughts.
- Use a pelmet above your curtains to trap rising warm air inside the room.
- Place draught excluders at the base of doors to stop cold air creeping in.
Reviving this simple method to warm your home can reduce heat loss while also keeping down your energy bills.