Use the tips provided here and you will not only lower your energy bills but also save money on heating this winter:
Retain the Heat
Buy some draught excluders and keep the doors closed to ensure that the heat stays in. Heating your hallways or empty rooms doesn’t make any sense. Get your curtains lined for an additional layer of insulation to ensure that your home stays warm and cozy in the evenings.
You can also install a Letterplate Eco – a specially designed letterbox excluder that prevents cold winds from getting into the home.
Use a Fan
Using a fan in winter sounds weird, but it can help keep the warm air moving around your house. This is particularly useful if you have any cold spots where hot air usually doesn’t reach. A fan that’s on a low setting is actually cheaper than putting the heat on and is more cost effective than a space heater.
Think About the Windows
Do you have double glazed windows? If not, you should seriously consider getting them done. While it will cost you money upfront, it will likely save money heating your home in the long run. You can also re-caulk the exterior of your windows to ensure that cold air doesn’t creep in through holes and cracks.
Get Smart with Your Radiators
Smart radiator valves allow you to control your radiators straight from your phone and track the energy being used, so that you know exactly which ones are functioning as they should and which ones are wasting heat.
If you are still looking to spend less, an inexpensive energy-saving option would be to stick some reflective foil behind the radiators. It prevents your walls from absorbing heat and instead reflects it back to your room. Foil is particularly useful if the radiator is situated underneath a window.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
If you don’t already have a smart thermostat, you should look into getting one. Smart thermostats let you control your heating from your phone, meaning that you don’t even have to be at home to switch it on or off. That way, in case you forget to turn it off before leaving the house, or if you are running late, you can make sure that you don’t waste energy warming an empty house. Click here to find out more about protecting your boiler and thermostat with bolier cover.
Insulate Your Hot Water Tank
Your hot water tank stores all your home’s warmth. In case it loses that warmth, it will continuously have to get warm again, wasting both energy and money. You can reduce heat loss by zipping it up in a hot water cylinder jacket. A jacket costs money to buy, but you save far more each year in heating costs.
Put Down Carpets
If the cold still manages to get in via the floorboards, you may be forced to take more extreme measures such as laying carpet. This can prevent draughts from getting in through the cracks. If you have a Victorian or older home and the room is large, you should consider a more permanent solution, such as mineral wool insulation between the floorboard layers.
Roof and Loft Insulation
Did you know that 25% of heat is lost through the roof if your house is not insulated? If correctly installed, loft insulation can last 40 years and pay for itself many times over.
Invest in Thick Curtains
You can avoid losing heat via your windows by using thicker curtains, specifically those with thermal lining. Alternatively, you can line the curtains yourself with a material such as inexpensive fleece, or even use PVC shower curtains.