Ways to keep your House Warm

Keeping your House Warm in the Colder Months

The weather in Britain is constantly temperamental one minute it may be roasting hot, then the next may be below sub-zero temperature. Staying warm can sometimes be costly, this is why we’ve come up with ways to insulate your home and stay warm through the colder months.

Position your Furniture in the Warmth

How warm you feel in a room depends on where you are sitting or where your furniture is placed, although the air temperature can be exactly the same – you will feel warmer if you position yourself closer to the inside of the house because of the cold external walls are further away. So, try and place your furniture next to your internal wall.

You may also unknowingly place furniture in front of heating vents when you’ve moved or rearranged any furniture. Quickly have a run around your house and double-check that vents aren’t blocked and if they are, find a way to move your furniture even if it’s just for the winter.

This will make sure each room is getting its max heat potential. Blocking return vents in a forced-air central heating system could also cause air pressure issues, which further disrupts the flow of heat.

Don’t Forget About your Radiators

If your boiler is on the blink it can lead to less efficient heating and therefore higher energy bills, it can be noisy and in the worst cases, can lead to deadly carbon monoxide emissions (this can tragically kill around 30 people in the UK each year).

It’s why most of us keep a cautious watch on our boilers. Whether it’s through the annual service we get from our boiler service provider to stop any potential breakdowns in their tracks, or whether we are making a point to check the system in times of low usage, it all goes towards helping you save money and live healthily.

Many boilers call out problems involving radiators, you can save yourself money by checking whether your problem can only be solved by a qualified plumber or your own DIY. Some common problems include:

• Hot at the Top, Cold at the Bottom – This means your radiators need to be bled, it is a simple problem to solve with a radiator valve key.
• Hot at the Bottom, Cold at the Top – This may indicate a build-up of sludge, to fix this you will need to remove the radiator and flush it out with water. If this doesn’t solve the problem it may be your pump that’s the issue.

Replacing your Windows for Heat Insulation

During the winter months, homeowners tend to see the highest energy bills that they’ve received all year, this tends to be due to draft and old windows.

When you choose to have double glazed windows installed, you’re on the right path, energy-efficient windows are an important consideration for both new and existing homes, heat gain and head loss through windows are responsible for up to 25% to 30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.

Your windows may be in great condition, but if you are experiencing draughts and cold areas of your house, it’s important to choose windows which will retain heat, increasing your energy efficiency and helping you save money on your energy bills.

Insulate Your Home

Drafty windows and door seals are the enemies of toasty home. You can stop warm air from leaking out and cold air from seeping in by making sure your doors and windows are correctly insulated. It is best to take a walk around your home both inside and outside looking for signs of any noticeable drafts around door and window frames. You may notice stripped or fading weather seals, not an outright gap, simply apply fresh sealant or caulking to any gaps.