An expert has shared the pros and cons of using tinfoil behind a radiator to heat up the home more quickly.
As energy prices continue to rise, some households are turning to thrifty hacks and tricks to get the most out of their consumption.
However, some hacks - such as leaving certain radiators off in the home and using the washing machine at certain times - don't always apply to everyone.
One method that many look to for cheaper home heating involves putting a piece of cardboard wrapped in tinfoil behind your radiator.
A clip from TikTok account @the.cosyclub explaining this very trick has recently gone viral, with more 65,000 views and hundreds of likes.
The TikTok user starts off the video by saying: "Gas companies are going to hate this life hack."
The user then shows viewers how to wrap tinfoil around "an old piece of cardboard" which you then place behind a radiator. The user explains in the comments that this hack: "stops the wall from absorbing a lot of the heat!"
The tinfoil supposedly reflects heat into the room rather than allowing it to escape through the wall behind the radiator.
TikTok users were quick to comment that they have been using this simple trick for some time.
One commenter wrote: "hack yes but not new. been known for years," while another added: "I started this last year and omg. The best thing everrrr."
A third commented: "I've done this for 22 years - change the foil every 4 weeks!"
While the money-saving method has been around for many years, some experts say that it's not as effective as it is often made out to be. Jess Steele, heating technology expert at BestHeating, has shared some of the pros and cons of the heat reflecting hack.
She comments: "The tin foil radiator heating method has been causing controversy a lot this year, with people really questioning the pros and cons of the hack.
"In terms of pros, using foil reflectors can result in saving some money on the heating bill and as we know, every little bit helps right now with the cost of living.
"On the flip side, radiators still have to be turned on and reach a high temperature for a lengthy period of time to heat a home for the foil to have the desired effect.
"Also, if you opt for homemade foil radiator reflectors, they can easily crinkle and oxidise which will result in them losing their reflective qualities all together."
What are your thoughts on this hack? Do you think that it is worthwhile? Let us know in the comments
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