Many free-standing heaters and radiators have built-in timers, but you can also add a smart timer to existing plug-in heaters by fitting a £10 smart plug.
From toasty toes to remote-controlled radiators We love winter, but sometimes it gets so cold that the central heating just isn’t enough. Not to worry: there’s tons of tech designed to keep you toasty. There are lots of heaters for your home in a range of prices. If money is no object, Dyson’s Purifier Hot+Cool uses Dyson’s bladeless fan technology to deliver winter warmth or summer cool without the buffering or noise of traditional fan heaters. Now might be a good time to invest in a smart heating system. Systems such as British Gas’s Hive enable you to make your thermostat smart, so you can control it from your phone, tablet, smartwatch or smart speaker. You can get it to turn on automatically when you’re coming home and off when you’re going out, so you’re not paying to heat an empty home. You can also get smart radiator valves that only heat the room(s) you’re currently using.
If you have frosty feet an electric foot warmer could be a brilliant buy. We like the ones that look like a single oversized slipper – although they’re not ideal when you have to get up and answer the door. Technology has the answer when we venture outside too. In addition to smart fabrics that retain body heat, which you’ll find in products such as Columbia Sportswear’s Omni-Heat jackets and fleeces, you can even take an electric blanket under your coat: lots of different firms make heated body warmers, which look like normal body warmers but include heating elements and batteries that recharge just like phones. Expect around ten hours of warmth at the lowest setting and three on high. To just warm up your hands, you can get a rechargeable hand warmer, or there’s a rechargeable heated scarf for less than £10 – and if your car doesn’t have heated seats, you can add a heated cushion for less than £40.
Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket There’s a whole range of OmniHeat products from this famous sportswear brand, including fleeces, lightweight coats and heavy jackets. From around £200, Columbia.com
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Keep cool in summer, warm in winter and breathe nicer air all year round with this typically clever Dyson appliance. £549, Dyson.com
Hive Smart Thermostat Make any heating system into a smart heating system with the Hive Smart Thermostat. You can control it with your phone, tablet, smart watch or smart speaker. £249 including installation, Hive.com Zippo Heat Bank 9s Hand Warmer Zippo are famous for their lighters, but there’s a whole range of hand warmers too. The 9s is the latest model, and it not only heats your hands but charges your gadgets too. £44, zippo.co.uk
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Conqueco Heated Vest There are many heated vests on sites such as Amazon and this is one of the more expensive models, but it has hundreds of positive reviews. £102, Amazon.co.uk
