Keep your home warm for the rest of the winter
Now is a good time to winter proof your home. Here are seven tips to help you along the way – one of every day the week. And these steps will help your home be more energy efficient all year round – not just in winter.
Monday: Clear your gutters: Now is the perfect time to make sure that your gutters are free of debris. Blocked gutters can cause more damage than you may think. It prevents effective rainwater drainage which can cause expensive (and preventable) damage to your property.
You’ll only need a ladder, bucket, gutter scoop (or garden trowel), and heavy-duty gloves. Remember to take all the necessary precautions for working at height.
Tuesday: Check your roof tiles: Broken or misaligned roof tiles can lead to leaks and flooding, so check now before the weather gets cold and wet. You may be able to see these from street level or when you’re cleaning your gutters. Although the job itself is straightforward, it may be best to call a professional if you spot an issue, unless you are comfortable working at height.
Wednesday: Insulate your home: If draughts are getting in through cracks, doors, or windows, then that’s where the heat from your house is escaping. Main culprits for drafts are windows, doors, floorboards, chimneys, loft hatches and unused chimneys. Make sure that you use draught excluders - bought or homemade - around these places. If you have an unused chimney, you can buy an inflatable chimney balloon, or use balled up newspaper or old pillows. Just make sure you remember not use the fireplace once you have plugged it.
Not sure where the drafts are in your home? The old-fashioned way to find them is using a lighted candle; a dancing flame indicates a draught. According to the energy saving trust, extensive draught-proofing could save you around £60 a year.
But the biggest source of heat loss isn’t gaps around the house. According to British Gas, up to a quarter of your home's heat escapes through the roof. That’s why now is the time to check that you have adequate insulation. You need 270mm of insulation to get the most benefit and although you may have to invest some money, you can install it yourself; there’s lots of how to videos online. It will pay for itself in the long run. Loft insulation can last up to forty years and according to the Energy Saving Trust, it can save you hundreds of pounds. For example, if you live in a detached house and you’re insulating your loft for the first time, you can save up to £590.
Thursday: Bleed your radiators. Over time, air can seep into your central heating system and will tend to bubble up to the top of your radiators, especially those furthest away from the boiler. This air can make your radiators less efficient and noisy – you’ll be able to tell if this is an issue for you if the top of your radiators is colder than the bottom.
The good news is that it is quite easy to release this air from, or bleed, your radiators. British Gas has made a ‘how to’ video that you can watch here.
Friday: Install reflectors behind your radiators on external walls. By fitting reflectors, you will ensure that the exterior wall doesn’t soak up the heat and that it is reflected back into your room instead. You can buy radiator reflector panels online or some DIY shops will cut radiator reflector foil to size for you.
You only need to fit panels to external walls. This is because heat always travels from warm to cold, so the colder outdoors will draw the heat from your house. This isn’t a problem on interior walls as the difference in temperature between rooms is not big enough to draw away the heat.
Saturday: Turn down the ‘flow temperature’ on your condensing combi boiler. This is different to turning down your water temperature; the flow temperature is how hot your boiler heats the water before sending it off to your radiators. By turning it down, you will make your boiler run more efficiently and according to the Heating and Hot Water Council and could save 6% to 8% on your gas bill.
Not sure how to turn down your flow temperature? Just follow this handy guide from The Heating Hub.
Sunday: Line your curtains. According to curtain specialists Hillary’s, a thermal lining can reduce heat loss by up to 39% above a standard polyester cotton lining when your curtains are closed. You don’t have to invest in new curtains because you can sew thermal linings into your curtains (or even use Velcro).