Do you want to keep your house warm on a budget this winter?
We all dream of the perfect snowy winter, curled up with a warm drink on the sofa. But the reality of trying to keep your home warm during the cold months is a lot less romantic. This year has already been colder and wetter than usual, and the next few months aren’t likely to get better.
While a full house retrofit might already be on your mind, we know you don’t have the time to get everything done before Christmas. But we don’t want you to suffer, so we’ve put together a list of small, affordable, retrofit measures that you can do now to have a warmer, cosier home this winter.
1. Draft Proofing
Drafts are common in older homes and can contribute significantly to heat loss. Adding weather strips or foam seals around your windows and doors can help to minimise this. If you have an open keyhole, adding a keyhole cover will also help. A draft excluder at the base of your doors is also a good idea, and as a bonus you can pick a style to suit your interior design preference, adding personality to your entry space.
If your house has a fireplace that you don’t use, consider installing a chimney balloon. If you do use your fireplace, you could help to reduce air leakage with a chimney draft excluder. Just remember to remove it before starting a fire!
One important think to remember when draft proofing your home is that you need to provide a good level of ventilation to avoid moisture build-up. Remember to air your house out or invest in dehumidifiers if it’s too chilly to open the windows.
2. Window Insulation
Around 30-35% of heat loss in our homes is lost though windows and doors. This figure will be higher if you have traditional single glazed windows. While the best solution is to replace your glazing with high quality double or triple glazed units, we know that isn’t a realistic option for everyone, especially when we all have Christmas presents to buy!
Instead, investing in good quality, thick, thermal curtains will have less of an impact on your winter budget. The best thing is that you can keep them when you decide to replace your windows later. Thermal curtains will help to stop warm air reaching your cold glazing, keeping it inside instead.
If your windows are relatively new and don’t need replaced, but aren’t performing as you would like, window film insulation could be a good option.
3. Reflective Radiator Foil
Another good idea is to install reflective radiator film between your radiators and the wall. Radiators work by radiating heat out into your room, but they also radiate the heat into your wall. If your walls aren’t well insulated, this will lead to heat escaping through the walls.
Installing new wall insulation can be expensive, disruptive, and needs to be designed properly by a retrofit professional. So for now, radiator foil is a great quick option to help keep the heat inside.
4. Smart Thermostat
If you don’t have one already, get a smart thermostat! A smart thermostat will help you keep your house warm over winter, without wasting energy by overheating. Some models will allow you to control your heating system by temperature, time, and room. This lets you keep your living spaces cosy and prevents condensation build-up in your service rooms. Overall, having more control over your home is always a benefit.
5. LED Lighting
While LEDs won’t keep your house warm, they will improve the energy efficiency of your home. With the current cost of living crisis, you might be nervous about how high your heating bill will be this winter. By installing LEDs, the reduced electricity cost will help to compensate for some of that, and reduce some of the holiday stress!