Cooling & Heating

Summer: what you actually need

The order that makes financial sense is clear. A fan first — it covers most days, costs almost nothing to run and cools people effectively.

Then an air cooler, if you live in a dry climate or want something for a balcony or covered outdoor space.

A portable air conditioner last, only if you cannot install a fixed unit and there is a window for the hose.

And a reminder that genuinely helps: humidity makes heat far less bearable. In a damp home, a dehumidifier improves how it feels more than you would expect.

Winter: which appliance for which use

I want to be warm now, briefly. A fan heater — a bathroom before a shower, an office in the morning. Fast, but expensive in continuous use.

I want warmth all night. An oil radiator with a thermostat. The only electric heater that can safely be left running in a bedroom.

I only want to sleep warm. An electric blanket — by far the cheapest solution, because it heats a bed rather than a room.

I want immediate warmth in a large or open space. A heater — with attention to the safety rules, particularly on gas models.

Two safety rules for the whole category

Never on a power strip or extension lead. Heating appliances draw high current and are among the most common causes of overheating and fire. Only straight into a wall socket.

Never clothing on a heating appliance. This applies to fan heaters, heaters and oil radiators without exception — it is the most classic way a house fire starts.

Browse the rest