Heating & Warmth

Heating & Warmth Solutions for UK Homes

Draught excluders, thermal curtains, smart radiator valves and insulation tricks — stay warm without blasting the boiler.

12Products Reviewed
10Buying Guides
June 2026Last Updated

The problem

Why UK homes lose so much heat

Around a third of UK homes still have single-glazed windows or poorly sealed double glazing — especially in pre-1990 builds. Cold glass surfaces chill the air next to them, creating draughts that pull warmth away from where you're sitting. Even heavy curtains can't fully stop the radiant heat loss through old frames.

Draughty doors, letterboxes and keyholes are just as guilty. A gap of just 3mm under a door is the equivalent of a small window left open all winter. Many renters can't replace doors or fit permanent seals, so cheap, removable draught-proofing becomes essential.

Radiators mounted on external walls lose a surprising amount of heat straight into the brickwork behind them — up to 40% by some estimates. Uninsulated lofts and wall cavities compound the problem. The good news: small affordable fixes like reflector panels, foam strips and thermal curtains can cut heat loss by 15–25% before you even touch the boiler settings.

Buying guides in this category

All buying guides →
Guide

Best Draught Excluders for UK Doors & Windows

Foam strips, brush seals and letterbox covers ranked by ease and effectiveness.

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Guide

Thermal Curtains: Do They Actually Work? (We Tested Them)

We hung three brands in a 1930s terrace and measured the temperature drop with a thermal camera.

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Guide

Best Smart Radiator Valves (TRVs) for UK Homes 2026

tado, Hive and Drayton Wiser compared — which app is least annoying?

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Guide

Best Heated Airers for UK Homes 2026

From budget 2-tier to large 3-tier with covers — running costs and drying times compared.

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Guide

Why Is My House So Cold Even With the Heating On?

The 7 most common reasons UK homes feel cold despite heating — and the cheapest products to fix each.

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Guide

Oil Filled Radiator vs Electric Heater — Running Costs Compared

Oil, fan or panel — we compare running costs, heat output, noise and efficiency for UK homes.

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Guide

Best Electric Heaters for a Single Room UK 2026

Oil filled, ceramic, convector, infrared and halogen compared — with real running costs per hour.

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Guide

Best Letterbox Draught Excluders UK 2026

3 best letterbox draught excluders tested for UK front doors — brush covers, full seal plates and the £40 whole-door kit.

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Guide

Best Draught Excluders for Windows UK 2026

5 best window draught excluders tested — foam, brush, silicone and window film for wooden sash and UPVC windows.

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Guide

Best Draught Excluders for Front Doors UK 2026

Letterbox, under-door, frame and keyhole — the complete £39 fix for the draughtiest door in your house.

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Guide

Best Draught Excluders for Sash Windows UK 2026

Brush strips, window film and secondary glazing options for Victorian and Edwardian sash windows — under £30 per window.

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Guide

Best Draught-Proofing Products UK 2026

Complete whole-house draught-proofing kit — front doors, windows, chimneys, loft hatches and skirting boards under £100.

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Guide

Oil Filled Radiator Running Cost UK 2026 — Real Numbers

Exact cost per hour, day, week and month by wattage — plus 5 ways to cut running costs and how oil compares to fan heaters.

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GuideComing Soon

Radiator Reflector Panels — Worth It or Waste of Money?

£20 of foil-backed board behind a rad: we measured before and after with a thermometer.

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GuideComing Soon

Best Window Insulation Film for Single-Glazed Windows

The £12 DIY kit that stops the draught without damaging paintwork.

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GuideComing Soon

Cheap Ways to Keep a Cold Room Warm Without a Heater

Eight renter-friendly fixes under £30, ranked by how much warmer they actually feel.

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Top products in this category

Start Here

Diall Self-Adhesive Draught Strip

4.2
£6–£10
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Best Value

NICETOWN Thermal Blackout Curtains

4.5
£22–£35
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tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat

4.3
£45–£65
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Radflek Radiator Reflector

4.1
£20–£28
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Stormguard Letterbox Draught Excluder

4.0
£8–£14
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3M Window Insulation Film Kit

4.3
£12–£18
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Keep Warm UK Tip

Start with draught-proofing

Before buying any heating gadget, seal the leaks. A £6 pack of self-adhesive foam strip around doors and windows can make a bigger difference to how warm a room feels than a £200 heater — because you're keeping the warmth you already have, not trying to generate more.

Curated kit

The Cold Room Quick Fix Kit Under £80

Five products that, used together, plug the most common heat-loss points in a typical UK flat — no tools, no landlord permission needed.

01

Self-adhesive draught strip

£6

5m roll of EPDM foam — seals gaps up to 5mm on windows and doors.

Buy on Amazon
02

Door bottom draught excluder

£12

Brush or rubber strip that screws or slides on — stops floor-level chill.

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03

Thermal blackout curtains (pair)

£28

Thick lined fabric that blocks cold air falling from the glass.

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04

Radiator reflector panel

£22

Foil-backed board that reflects heat back into the room instead of into the wall.

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05

Window insulation film kit

£14

Shrinks tight with a hair dryer — invisible draught barrier for single glazing.

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Total:approximately £82

Prices approximate, checked June 2026. Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission.