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Families seeking ways to keep their homes cozy without cranking up the heating can use a little-known method made popular over 125 years ago.
While modern insulation and central heating systems can certainly keep a property toasty, they can also be quite costly, prompting many to seek alternative solutions. An old 1800s-era trick is the perfect solution for warming your home without turning on the heat. And it’s just as effective today as it was over a century ago.
According to My Home Improvements, a leading authority in home upgrades and energy efficiency, this simple method was a staple in Victorian households long before central heating became commonplace.
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Victorian homes were notoriously drafty, and to combat this without wasting precious coal, homeowners would rely on a combination of heavy curtains, door drapes, and ‘pelmets’ to trap warm air inside. The key components of this forgotten trick include thick floor-length curtains with pelmets – also known as valances – on top, which should be placed not just in front of windows but also alongside doors leading to colder rooms.
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The final element is to use draft excluders at doors. The experts suggest fabric ‘sausage dog’ excluders or thick door drapes, which were a feature in many Victorian homes. A spokesperson for My Home Improvements, discussing this Victorian method, said: “Many homeowners underestimate just how much heat escapes through windows and doorways. The Victorians didn’t have central heating, yet they managed to keep their homes warm with these simple, effective methods.”, reports the Express .
“Heavy curtains, door drapes, and pelmets might seem old-fashioned, but they’re an incredibly efficient way to reduce heat loss and keep your home cosy-without increasing your energy bills.” They also shared how you can adapt this Victorian-era trick for your modern home, stating that reviving this simple method can reduce heat loss and help lower your energy bills.
The hack comes as worries grow that Donald Trump could drive up inflation by imposing further trade tariffs. This could bring more pressure onto families trying to balance their finances. The president said on Monday that the levies on imports from America’s neighbors Canada and Mexico will move ahead after a one-month delay. He has also put a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, citing that country’s role in the production of the opioid fentanyl.
“President Trump isn’t blinking on tariffs,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. “Uncertainty reigns, and economic momentum is sputtering.” Major companies have warned about uncertainty over U.S. trade policies, while the University of Michigan’s latest consumer sentiment index plunged by roughly 10% over the past month in part due to fears about tariffs and worsening inflation.
