Baby it’s cold outside
LUKE RIX-STANDING reveals how to stay warm and save money with 10 top winter hacks
IF THE weather outside is frightful, it may take more than a fire to make your interiors delightful. The long winter evenings have arrived, along with wind, rain and possibly snow, so it’s time to make sure your home is well prepared for wintry weather.
These simple seasonal switches will help keep your house homely.
KEEP YOUR CURTAINS CLOSED
CURTAINS aren’t exactly airtight, but even the loosest layer of fabric can make a remarkable difference when it comes to keeping out the cold. Closing your curtains limits heat loss and provides an extra barrier against the elements. Your boiler will thank you and, therefore, so will your heating bill.
DRAUGHT-PROOF YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS
FOR windows that open, use self-adhesive strips to seal up any gaps around the frame and use a soft, silicone sealant for windows that stay closed. Doors can be given similar treatment but, for floor-level openings, it may be simpler to employ an old-fashioned, ‘sausage dog’ draught excluder.
Letterboxes and keyholes are also classic sources of draughts. Plug them respectively with letterbox brushes and keyhole covers.
INSTALL STRIPS OF FOIL BEHIND YOUR RADIATORS
IF you have radiators fixed to external walls, slide a layer of tin foil between wall and unit to reflect as much heat as possible back into the room.
Pick up special heat-reflector aluminium foil to maximise retention and remember that hanging clothes on a radiator forces it to work twice as hard. Regular bleeds will ensure your radiator performs optimally. Run your hand over your unit – if it’s cool at the top and warmer towards the bottom, it’s bleeding time.
INSULATE EVERYTHING
THERE’S not much you can’t insulate these days, but plumbing should always be your first port of call.
Exposed pipes can be snugged up with slip-on foam tubing (available at most hardware stores), while boilers and water tanks can be easily dressed with jackets.
A jacket costs £15-£20 and should come with instructions (make sure you’ve measured your unit before you buy), and will slash your winter energy bills by reducing heat loss. According to the Energy Saving Trust, it should pay for itself in about three months. Wall, floor and loft insulation are similarly worthy projects, but may require professional installation for all but the most experienced DIY-ers.
USE A THERMOSTAT TO REGULATE YOUR HEATING
EVEN if you’re a card-carrying technophobe, it’s worth stretching a point for a modern, programmable thermostat. The in-built timer will allow you to schedule your home’s heating, so it powers down when you go out and turns on automatically on your return – a boon for your living room, the environment and your bank account.
SERVICE YOUR BOILER
PICTURE the scene: You crawl out of bed on a frosty Monday morning, and amble to the bathroom for a shower, only to be deluged by the domestic equivalent of the Ice Bucket Challenge.
You do not want your boiler giving out in early February. Check the pressure (it should be at around one bar), and ideally get your unit serviced every autumn.
If you don’t schedule in maintenance for your boiler, your boiler may end up scheduling it in for you.
CLEAN OUT YOUR GUTTERS
GUTTER-CLEARING is not a glamorous occupation, but fallen leaves and sticks can easily result in a clog and the ensuing build-up of rainwater can cause damp to seep into your walls.
Get the ladder out, strap your gloves on and prepare to get down and dirty. When your gutters are clear enough that water flows unimpeded, you’re good to go.
PAPER OVER CRACKS
TO stop wet, wind and, in some cases, heat-seeking rodents from sneaking into your home uninvited, use foam adhesive and caulk to plug gaps in walls and skirting boards.
High quality sealants are easy to peel off if you make a mistake, but once hardened should hold firm for many years.
KEEP THE SLUSH AWAY FROM YOUR DOOR
WHEN you cross the threshold, you don’t want winter coming with you and, if you don’t have a mudroom, you’re going to have to tackle the weather head-on.
A rough-textured doormat will help shed mud and gunk from your shoes, a boot scraper is a must i n rural environments and a plastic boot tray should protect your indoor floor.
GET SNUGGLY
AT the end of the day, nothing cosies up a long winter evening like traditional home comforts.
Pile on the blankets, set a fire going, brew some hot cocoa and throw on some Dean Martin. Bliss.