HACKS that promise to save money on energy bills could actually be causing other issues in your home, an expert has warned.
As energy prices having gone up across the UK, households are constantly on the lookout for ways to keep costs down.
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Bills have increased in line with the current Ofgem price cap, meaning the typical household will now pay an average of £1,928 a year, up from £1,834 previously – a rise of £94.
But while you might be busy thinking about the steps you can take to keep a lid on gas and electricity costs, some of the common hacks could actually end up creating a mould problem in your property.
This is according to Greg Wilson, founder of Quotezone.co.uk, a comparison site dedicated to helping customers save money on their energy bills, as well as other financial products.
He told The Sun: “You might, for example, have heard that using a thermostatic radiator valve or TRV to turn down heating in unused parts of the house can help you save on bills.
Read more on mould
“But you need to take care not to turn your heating off completely, or you leave yourself at risk from damp and mould.”
Mould is caused when there is a high level of moisture in the air. Not only is the fungus unsightly, it can also be dangerous.
Damp and mould can produce allergens, irritants and other toxins that are harmful to your health.
If you end up with a mould problem, you are putting you – and your family – at risk of a host of conditions such as wheezing, allergies and rashes.
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“When used correctly, TRVs can be really helpful,” said Greg.
“They allow you to turn an individual radiator up or down, making this a more efficient way to heat your home.”
TRVs work by limiting or turning off the flow of hot water into the radiator.
They can be cheap to buy. At B&Q, you can pick up one of these gadgets for around £6.
But you need to use them carefully.
“The best approach is to leave the heat on for at least 30-60 minutes a day,” said Greg.
“You should do this even if the room is not used very often. This can help you avoid a mould problem.”
Hidden horror behind the curtains
The energy-saving whizz adds that another hack which households commonly use to bring down energy bills – involving blackout curtains – could also result in mould growing in your home.
“Blackout curtains can help keep the light out, and can also be very effective at keeping the heat in,” said Greg. “Lots of people have invested in them.”
Amazon sells thermally insulated blackout curtains that help to keep the cold out during the winter for less than £13.
“But while these can help you retain heat in your home, you need to be aware that they restrict airflow in the room,” said the energy aficionado.
“This can create more condensation on the windows.”
If you don’t take action and treat condensation, it could result in mould developing on your walls or ceilings, due to the excess moisture.
You might start to notice black, white or green patches slowly appearing, along with a musty smell.
“Watch out for mildew around the window seals, as this is also an indicator,” warned Greg.
“You may be thinking about hacks to help with energy bills, but you really don’t want to end up with a mould problem,”
Greg Wilson
“When thinking about your window coverings, you need to take care not to restrict airflow.
Make sure you keep the room well-ventilated by opening a window. This can allow fresh air to circulate.”
You can also use a dehumidifier to evaporate moisture, he adds.
While keeping energy bills to a minimum might be your priority right now, you don’t want to end up swapping one costly problem for another.
According to Checkatrade, if you need to pay for professionals to remove mould from your home, you could expect to pay an average of around £225 per job.
Should you have a particularly bad case of mould across your entire property, you could be looking at a bill of between £800 and £1,000.
“You may be thinking about hacks to help with energy bills, but you really don’t want to end up with a mould problem,” said Greg.
Equally, just in case the toxic fuzz has already started growing in your home without you realising it, you need to remain on high alert.
You might not have noticed mould if, say, it’s growing in the corner of rooms, behind furniture.”
This is especially true on external walls.
“I’d recommend regularly checking behind furniture, as well as on ceilings, throughout the winter,” said the money-saving whizz.
“You want to ensure there are no signs of damp and mould.”
More ways to avoid mould and damp
While you’re at it, you want to try to avoid anything which could exacerbate a mould problem.
“Try not to dry clothes inside – and especially over wintertime,” said Greg.
“This will add extra moisture into the air, creating the perfect conditions for mould and mildew.”
Once the weather improves in the spring, you’ll be able to dry clothes outside again – if you have the space to do so. In the meantime, you might want to invest in a heated airer.
Buying one of these units needn’t break the bank. At Argos you can get a 12m heated clothes airer with cover for £60.
There are also some great-value models available from the likes of Dunelm and Aldi.
As these gadgets cost from as little as 6p to run for an hour – compared to £1.35 to run the average tumble dryer for two hours – this can be a great way to dry your laundry for less.
And when you’re cooking, remember to use an extractor fan. The same advice applies when you’re having a shower.
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“In the kitchen and bathroom, a lot of moisture is likely to be added into the air,” said Greg. “Always use the extractor fan to keep the room ventilated. This will help prevent any damp or mould growth.”
Where possible, keep the doors to your kitchen and bathroom closed so moisture doesn’t escape into other areas of your home.
