Six steps to help ensure your home keeps cosy

WITH Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to make our homes as warm, secure and comfortable as possible.

1. It’s curtains. Curtains are one of the most effective ways to protect your house from losing heat through the windows. Curtains with a thermal lining are a relatively cheap option, or if you’re handy with a sewing machine, line them yourself with a cheap fleece. You can also place a curtain in front of outside doors to add another layer of protection.

Open up curtains and blinds during the day to let sun in and close them as soon as dusk falls to keep in heat.

2. Banish draughts. Dig out your gran’s sausage dog draught excluders and put them at the bottom of doors to stop heat escaping through the gap between door and floor. Beware mini-draughts from letter boxes, keyholes and cat flaps. You can pick up cheap solutions at your local DIY store.

3. Love a rug. Wooden floors can look great but can lose you lots of expensive heat. Floors account for as much as 10% of heat loss if they’re not insulated, according to the National Energy Foundation (NEF). Rugs and blankets can help and have the added bonus of keeping your feet warm.

Floorboards and skirting boards can contract, expand or move slightly with everyday use. If there are cracks or gaps in the flooring, it’s a good idea to squirt some filler into them. Use a silicone-based one that can tolerate movement.

4. Keep the heat. It’s now fairly common to have decorative fireplaces. If you’re not using yours, then you should consider a chimney balloon. What’s that? It’s made from a special laminate, and costs about £20. It works by being placed inside the chimney hole, just out of sight, then inflated until it completely shuts out any incoming cold air or escaping heat. Just be sure not to start a fire without removing it.

5. Windows. Upgrade or replace any drafty old windows with double or triple glazed ones. It may seem like a big outlay but you’ll be amazed what a difference it can