With the right prep, winter doesn’t have to mean wasted energy – a few simple steps could be all you need to keep your home warm and toasty, and use less energy at the same time.
Here are our top five tips to help beat the chill without breaking the bank:
- Invest in a draught excluder: Draught excluders are a quick, simple and inexpensive way to keep the heat in. They’re also easy to find in most local DIY stores – and once they’re down, they stop valuable heat escaping in seconds! Fitting letterbox flaps or brushes, or keyhole covers for doors, can also make a big difference.
- Trap in heat with treated windows: Poor insulation is the main culprit when it comes to heat loss in the home. Prevent heat seeping out of gaps in your window frames by applying a specialist window adhesive tape to the edges. It’s a cheap but effective solution, and requires little in the way of expertise or time to fit. In fact, just draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you £25 a year.*
- Fit radiator reflectors: These are quick and easy to fit, simply slotting down the back of your radiators. They work by reflecting heat back into your rooms (stopping it from escaping through walls). They’re especially effective if you have thin walls without much insulation, and can reduce heat loss by up to 45%.*
- Bleed your radiators: The start of heating season is the ideal time to give your radiators a health check. Trapped air or gas inside can stop them from working properly – bleeding them using a radiator key helps make sure they’re set up to be as efficient as possible when it’s cold outside.
- Take control with thermostats: Fitting a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves means you get the heat you need in every room, for less wastage. With a programmable thermostat, you can also set timers, so you’re not heating empty rooms. It all adds up: turning down a room’s thermostat by just one degree could shave £75 off your annual heating bill.*
*Energy Saving Trust