Tips on how to warm up your home in winter
With the combination of more people working from home and the colder temperatures of winter, heating bills for most people across the UK are rocketing.
The cost of energy bills has long been a big concern for UK households, but there are lots of simple things you can do to keep cosy and reduce your fuel bills during the wintery period.
Here are some tips from NHBC, a warranty and insurance provider for new build homes:
■ Reduce draughts. An important job as winter takes its toll. Look for unintended draughts.
Floorboards and skirtings usually go ignored but cold air can easily filter through, so check for gaps and fill them in. Check to see if your letterbox is draughty, which can lead to cold hallways. Installing a letter box draught excluder that fits on to the inside of your front door is an inexpensive easy DIY job. If you have an open fireplace and chimney which is not used, this can be draught proofed to stop warm air escaping and cold air entering your property. Remember that openings for ventilation should not be blocked. ■ Bleed your radiators. Trapped air or gas prevents hot water from heating your radiators fully so, if you have a radiator that is warm at the bottom but cool at the top, this may well mean there is air in the system, which may require bleeding to ensure maximum efficiency of the heating system. ■ Loft insulation. Insulating your loft is a simple, inexpensive and effective way to reduce energy waste and lower your heating bills. All new houses are fitted with loft insulation that meets the latest building regulations but, if you are in an older property, you may want to think about renewing it or topping it up.
■ Thick curtains. It sounds simplistic but they can help to protect your home from losing heat through windows. It is important to try to get as much sunlight into your home during the day as possible but, as soon as dusk falls, remember to close curtains to reduce the need for additional heating.
■ Keep radiators free. A common mistake we often make is to place our sofas in front of the radiators which can absorb the heat.
■ Cavity wall insulation. Around a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through walls so, if you live in an older property, thermal insulation of cavity walls could save you lots of money.
■ Loft hatches. Energy loss through the loft hatch is often overlooked. Insulating the hatch and ensuring that an effective draught seal is in place will help to keep heat energy.
■ Windows. Energy-efficient glazing keeps your home warmer, allowing less heat to be lost. Double glazing is fitted as standard to new-build homes but, if your house is older, replacing windows could be a good investment as they help to keep warmth in and reduce external noise.
■ Service your heating system.
All central heating boilers should be serviced and safety checked at least once a year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. If your boiler is old, then consider an upgrade. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a new A-rated condensing boiler can save up to £315 a year on heating bills.
■ Room temperature controls. Your thermostat should typically be set between 18C and 21C, but by installing thermostatic radiator valves you can set different temperatures in different rooms and turn down the radiators in unoccupied rooms, saving money.