There is nothing more infuriating in winter than turning on the heating, running up a bill, and not feeling its warming effects.
You don't need to call a professional just yet, however. In fact, the fix could already be sitting in your bathroom – the humble hair dryer.
No, we don't mean warming yourself with this styling essential. This clever cleaning tip can help boost radiator and vent efficiency, making it feel instantly cozier without turning up the thermostat.
Boost Your Radiator’s Heating with 1 Simple Bathroom Item
Cleaning and removing dust is one of the easiest ways to make your heating more efficient.
When it comes to cleaning radiators and cleaning vents around your home, however, with all of their grooves and awkward spaces, it is easier said than done.
That's where a hair dryer, such as the Conair InfinityPRO Hair Dryer from Best Buy, comes in to blast the dust away without having to reach into awkward gaps.
Eli Zimmer, director of operations at Luxaire HVAC Services, explains, 'These spots can be so difficult to dust because of the many small openings that end up making a regular manual dusting pretty intricate and challenging – similar in a way to how difficult it is to dust blinds.
'By using a hairdryer, you can instead blast air into those small crevices, and the force from that can dislodge dust.'
To avoid any cleaning mistakes, it is important to only use the cool setting on your hair dryer, warns Bert Miskell, owner at BPM Heating, Cooling & Plumbing.
'The goal is to remove dust, not heat it,' he reminds us. 'Using hot hair can actually bake the dust onto the system. Just make sure to vacuum the area well afterward because dust will fly all around.'
If you are sensitive to dust, we suggest wearing either a dust mask from Walmart while cleaning or using one of the best air purifiers, such as the top-rated Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX from Best Buy, to prevent the dust from settling elsewhere.
Improve Heating Efficiency
With a cool dry setting and a concentrator nozzle, this hair dryer is perfect for blasting dust from thin gaps in radiators and heat vents.
No outlets nearby? A long handed Swiffer duster can help to reach into awkward gaps and push dust out.
Dryer lint brushes are not just suited to awkward seals and drums in your best clothes dryer. The long reach and flexible handle mean it is perfect for getting down into gaps in radiators to dislodge dust, without damaging your home.
The Damp Duster is great for allergy sufferers as it removes all dust, pollen, pet hair, and more. Better yet, it is easy to clean – simply rinse the sponge with water to remove dust and grime.
This product applies crystal clear, adding an extra thermal layer to your windows to help trap heat and prevent cold-air transfer for a warmer home.
This large room air purifier cleans rooms up to 1,000 sq ft in one hour, helping to collect dust that could otherwise irritate airways or make a home look drab.
Meet the Experts
Dust isn't the only thing making your heating system work harder. Incorrect settings and bad thermostat placement can all have a serious impact on how warm your home feels.
