I tried Martin Lewis’ simple 38p radiator hack – it took me just seconds and instantly slashed my energy bills
AS the temperatures are beginning to drop, Brits are on the lookout for ways to stay toasty without racking up huge energy bills.
Luckily, one man has taken to TikTok to share a life-changing hack after picking it up from the money-saving whizz Martin Lewis.
In the video, Sam Calver said: “I can’t believe I’ve only just found out about this central heating trick.”
According to the man, it felt like the only thing he was doing was ”turning the heating up all the time”.
That is, until Sam stumbled upon the “radiator foil hack” thanks to finance pro Martin Lewis – and it’s been a game-changer ever since.
Raving about the winter tip, Sam said: ”I grabbed myself some radi savers – actually really cheap and you get about five metres of it.”
The trick is simple – once you’ve cut it to size, slide it down the back of your radiator, and feel it reflect ”the heat from your radiator back into the room rather than seeping through your walls”, Sam explained.
”It means you can have your heating on less and save a lot of money over time.”
Since being posted on the platform, where Sam regularly shares content under the username @samcalverrr, the clip has taken the internet by storm, winning him more than 73k views.
Over a dozen of social media users flooded to comments to share their thoughts – and it wasn’t just Sam who was a fan of the hack.
One person said: ”It works well. Done it since the 80s. Also, put think aluminium foil on the ceiling.
”The room becomes even warmer as you don’t lose heat to the flat upstairs.”
Someone else chimed in: ”My nan had one 30 years ago.”
Another viewer chuckled: ”I done the whole room – walls, roof – even the windows.
”I honestly know how the Xmas turkey feels sitting in its tin foil all day. Very warm, but very dark.”
Although shoppers can bag specialist radiator foil for as little as £8 from stores like Screwfix, a thrifty sheet of kitchen foil is thought to do the job just as well – and you can find it for just 38p at Waitrose.
According to Daily Star, Martin Lewis was the one who revealed the radiator foil hack back in 2022 on his show, Martin Lewis Money Show Live.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
The guru, 52, claimed that by popping some foil behind radiators, you could toss the toasty vibes right back into your living space.
The purse-friendly heating trick was also recently praised by the experts at Which?, who said that by putting foil behind radiators you will allow the heat to be reflected back into the room.
“This is particularly effective on external walls.
“You can pick up radiator reflector foil for around £8.
“It’s padded and usually has an adhesive backing so it’s really easy to install.”
“But kitchen foil also works as a low cost alternative.
“It’s quick, cheap and easy – a perfect hack for everyone, even if you’re not a confident DIY-er.”