We are deep into another brisk winter and back to that familiar ‘brace’ feeling when the energy bills arrive at the end of every month. Many solutions to hefty bills and bad insulation cost a lot of money and can deter families from taking action to try and warm up their homes. There are some simple adjustments you can make to your home to help warm it up and, in return, save money on your bills.
Below you will find our top 10 ideas to keep you warm this winter.
1) Radiators
One way you can prevent heat disappearing through the wall next to your radiator is by using tin foil. Simply line tin foil behind the radiator and the heat will be reflected back into the room instead of through the wall and outside. You can grab a roll of foil made specifically for this job that works best or you can use good quality kitchen foil.
2) Insulated curtains
One of the most effective ways of keeping heat in your home is to purchase thermally lined curtains. They are not very expensive and the thicker you get the better. You also don’t necessarily have to get new curtains. You can simply line the ones you already have; you just have to be a bit handy with a sowing machine. If you want to go a step further, you can add blinds in front of your windows behind the curtains and you can put curtains over doors.
3) Let the sun shine in
If you keep your curtains and/or blinds closed all day, you will be keeping your rooms in the shade and they will naturally be colder. Use as much of the natural warmth as you can get from the sun and let the sunlight shine on your home during the day. Once dusk comes around, close all the curtains to keep the heat insulated as long as possible.
4) Chimney balloon
If you use your fireplace then disregard this tip. If your fireplace is purely for decorative means then you should consider using a chimney balloon. It is a cheap solution to avoid heat being lost up the chimney and the balloon is placed just up the chimney hole so it is out of sight. Just make sure not to light the fire with the balloon up there! You can purchase chimney balloons here
5) Move obstacles
Many homeowners complain that a room is really cold and it is usually because an obstacle to heat is sat right in front of the radiator like a sofa or cabinet. Make sure your radiators can emit heat as far into the room as possible.
6) Close doors
A simple fix but effective one. By shutting the doors to unused rooms in your home, you can prevent cold air moving around your home and helps to contain heat in warmer areas.
7) Mini-issues
You will be surprised how much heat can be lost between mini-draught issues in your home such as the letterbox and cat flap. You can insert a brush insulated letterbox to prevent that mini-issue and a circular key hole cover can make a difference too. Try to have a cat flap that seals shut when the cat isn’t moving in and out. A cat flap that flaps in the wind is the worst.
8) Floorboards
Floorboards count for up to 10% of heat loss when they are not correctly insulated. If you have hard wood flooring, it is a good idea to get rugs and blankets to keep warm. Ultimately carpet is the best solution and will insulate your home and keep you much warmer. Additionally, if you see any cracks or gaps in the floor, you must fill them in with some filler.
9) Shelving
Strategic shelf placement can help channel the heat through your room especially if you have high ceilings. Radiators under windows tend to lose a lot of heat out of the window. By simply placing a shelf above the radiator and below the window, the heat will be channeled into the room instead of out the window.
10) Loft hatch
Having loft insulation is all well and good but if you have an inefficient loft hatch it will render the loft insulation useless. Make sure you have an insulated loft hatch that seals correctly.
Have you learned something new from reading this blog?
Do you have any ideas of your own? Let us know below.
