Shoppers rave about a ‘small but mighty’ gadget that will keep your house warm for 18p an hour without central heating
WITH the weather taking a turn for the worst, if you’re looking for ways to keep warm without breaking the bank, we’ve got you covered.
Particularly if you’re reluctant to turn on your central heating as a result of rising costs, then fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
As temperatures plummet and wind batters the UK, you’ll need to check out this new buy if you want to battle the chill.
And don’t worry if the cost of living crisis has meant that you’re on a tight budget, as this bargain buy is super cheap.
Not only is the handy gadget incredibly affordable, but it’s perfect for snuggly nights on the sofa too.
The Swan Plug-In Fan Heater might be small, but according to shoppers, it is definitely “mighty”.
It was once priced at £14.99, but has now been slashed to just £12.99.
Reporter Emma Gill gave the gadget a go and claimed: “It punches well above its weight: plug it in, switch it on, and feel the warmth pour out impressively,” reports the Manchester Evening News.
Emma also said: “It might be hard to believe that such a small device can perform so powerfully, yet this heater does the job splendidly, offering two fan speeds to control how forcefully it emits heat.”
With this gadget, you can adjust the temperature setting anywhere between 15 to 30 degrees.
The fan heater rapidly reaches higher temperatures within minutes and only activates when the pre-set temperature surpasses the current room temperature, ensuring you don’t use it more than necessary.
According to Emma, it is a “bargain to run”, as she claimed: “Switching it on for half an hour to warm up my room cost me a mere 9p, so even if you wanted to keep it on for three hours, it would only set you back 54p.”
Costing just 18p an hour, it’s no surprise that it’s such a hit, as the average cost of central heating is around £1.70 an hour, making this heater perfect for the colder months ahead.
The 90-degree swivel plug allows you to direct the heat wherever you need it most.
Cheap gadgets to help you stay warm
MARTIN Lewis' MoneySavingExpert shared six gadgets that can help you keep the heating off but stay warm.
Heating “the human not the home” means you warm yourself instead of turning on the heating and heating the whole house.
This can save money on your heating bill and means you don’t have to sit in the cold.
- USB gloves – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Heated insoles – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- USB hand warmers – initial cost £15, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Electric gilet – initial cost £50 (including battery pack), cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Microwaveable wheat bag – initial cost £4, cost to run less than 1p per hours
- Reusable hand warmers – initial cost £5 for a pair, cost to run less than 1p per hour
Not only this, but its compact size makes it incredibly portable from one room to another.
But it’s not just Emma who was impressed with her purchase, as the fan heater has also received positive reviews on the Swan website too.
Easy to use, small and compact, gets quite hot, works really well
Swan shopper
It has an average rating of 4.6 out of five, with many hailing the heater as ‘brilliant’.
One person said: “Excellent purchase. Wish I’d bought it before. Heats my kitchen well.”
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
Another added: “Bought for use in my son’s caravan. He was sceptical about the size. Small but mighty!”
Whilst a third beamed: “This is a brilliant little portable heater/fan. Easy to use, small and compact, gets quite hot, works really well.”
Meanwhile, someone else claimed that the heater produced “instant heat”.
At the same time, another shopper confessed: “Quite loud, but worth it, instant heat and easy to use.”