New research looking into the lengths Britons go to in order to warm up their homes has revealed that some people have previously covered their windows with bubble wrap, or insulated their radiators with tin foil; whilst others have resorted to slightly more unusual methods. The research has revealed how British homeowners try to keep their houses warm, including the slightly more unusual methods. Nine in ten homeowners think that they spend more than they should on heating, whilst two fifths have resisted putting the heating on this autumn despite wanting to, due to cost.
The study was conducted by the team at www.MyJobQuote.co.uk, and 2,492 people over the age of 18 were polled. All respondents revealed that they owned or rented a property, and had lived in it for at least five years.
All respondents were initially asked whether they thought that they spent more than they should on heating, to which 91% said that they did. Respondents were also asked if they had used any DIY methods to heat their home, to which 83% said that they had.
All respondents were initially asked what methods they had previously used to keep their house warm over winter. Participants were given a list of common DIY home warming tips to choose from and were allowed to state their own, and the top five most popular methods were as follows:
1. Put insulation in the attic/loft – 53%
2. Use draught excluders on doors– 42% 
3. Insulate the radiator with tin foil– 34%
4. Plug/cover up keyholes – 26%
5. Stick bubble wrap to windows – 7%
Some of the more unusual answers stated by some respondents included:
· Leaving the oven on when not actually cooking
· Lighting multiple candles
· Boiling pans of water on the hob to create steam/warmth
· Running an appliance (dishwasher/washing machine/tumble dryer) without needing to, to give off heat.
· Using multiple hairdryers to heat a room
Participants were also asked what month of the year they first started regularly turning the heating on, and the most popular answers were October (46%), September (26%) and November (18%). Two fifths, 41%, of people have resisted putting the heating on so far this autumn, despite wanting to. When asked why, 87% said this was due to the cost.
Respondents were also asked whether they had a functional/open fireplace in their home, to which 62% said that they did. Relevant participants were then asked if they light a fire before they give in to turning the heating on, and only 21% of the relevant respondents said that they did.
Commenting on the findings of the research, Lisa Evans, spokesperson for www.MyJobQuote.co.uk, said:
“It may seem encouraging that so many Britons are being so creative when it comes to heating their house; however, some of these unusual methods are simply impractical, expensive and potentially even dangerous, and not anything we would recommend – for example trying to heat your home with hairdryers and leaving the oven on without anything in it!”
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