British households have been warned about a dangerous radiator mistake that has the potential to cause a fire and spread harmful mould throughout their home.
Beyond these very real dangers, the widespread practice will also burn a hole in your pocket, seeing you spend more money to heat your home less efficiently.
You may also be forced to spend your hard-earned wages more frequently, replacing an expensive item that no person who values their sleep can live without.
Households warned over dangerous radiator practice that could cause a fire and spread mould
Highlighting the practice, expert Martin Seeley, CEO of MattressNextDay, shared why beds should never be placed against radiators.
According to the experts, positioning your bed against a radiator could cause you to spend twice as much on mattresses over a lifetime.
This is because the heat from the radiator can cut a mattress's lifespan in half.
They said: "A good mattress should last around eight years, but placing one against a radiator can cut that lifespan in half.
"That means you are replacing it every four years instead of every eight.
"Over an adult lifetime, that works out at 15 mattresses instead of seven.
"If you spend an average of £500 on a mattress each, you are spending £7500 compared to £3500.
"Simply by moving your bed away from a radiator, you can save thousands."
The expert also warns of the increased risk of fire, telling households: "Although every mattress sold in the UK must meet strict fire resistance standards, they are not immune to flames.
"Bedding, duvets, and accumulated dust are all flammable.
"Heating equipment causes hundreds of fires in British homes each year, and putting a mattress directly against a radiator makes that risk much higher than it needs to be."
It's not just the mattress itself that can cause problems, as placing the bed against a radiator can also waste up to £255 a year on heating.
The expert said: "A radiator blocked by a mattress cannot circulate warmth properly, so much of the energy you are paying for is wasted.
"Studies suggest that blocking radiators can waste 10 to 15 per cent of heating efficiency.
"With the average household energy bill at £1,700, that is as much as £255 a year lost to heat that never makes it into the room.
"Over a decade, that is £2,500 literally vanishing into thin air."
The sudden temperature changes created by the radiator can also cause mould to form on the mattress.
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The expert added: "Radiators cause sudden temperature changes, which encourages condensation on nearby walls.
"A mattress pressed against this creates the perfect pocket for mould and mildew to form.
"Once it takes hold, spores can spread through the fabric in days.
"Not only will your mattress be ruined, but you may also notice worsening allergies, coughing or poor indoor air quality without realising the culprit is your bed."
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