With the cost-of-living crisis in full swing, households are seeking any ways to make their homes more energy efficient to slash bills.
As winter sets in, DIY experts are warning UK homeowners to conduct a house MOT now before the weather gets colder.
Experts at MyJobQuote recommend checking to see if your radiator has hidden dust - as a dirty heating system could end up costing you hundreds on fuel bills.
This is because horizontal radiators often have convector fins inside of them and if these become dusty, less heat will be transferred between.
According to research by Enertek International, a dirty heating system could increase your energy bills by up to 25 per cent. MyJobQuote has revealed that having a dirty heating system could therefore add up to £625 onto the average annual energy bill.
Experts recommend using a nifty hair dryer hack to make radiators run better. This quick two-step trick could get rid of pesky dust and dirt in seconds.
Step one - Turn off your radiators and lay a towel beneath them to collect any dirt and dust.
Step two - Put your hairdryer on the highest setting and point the nozzle in the space between the back of your radiator and the wall. This will blow any dust and dirt onto the towel you placed beneath the radiator and prevent dust and dirt from building up in the convector fins.
Experts have also shared their knowledge on the best ways to weatherproof your home to cut energy costs this season.
As winter weather sets in, rain, snow and stormy conditions can not only lead to higher energy consumption at home, but could also damage vulnerable areas - which could result in costly repairs.
Here are ways to keep your home free from winter damage....
1. Clean the gutters yourself in three simple steps and save £200
For gutters to work correctly during winter they need to be clear, otherwise, the outside drainage system won’t work and rainwater can overflow and run down the walls of your house.
You should always clean your gutters after autumn as leaves are a huge culprit for causing blockages in gutters. The average cost to get your gutters cleaned by a professional is £200.
Step one - Cleaning gutters is a two-person job and must only be done yourself if you have a sturdy ladder, with someone there to help you.
Step two - Take a bucket and a small plastic scoop and work your way around the guttering, scooping out as much of the debris as possible.
Step three - Wash out the gutters with a hose and if you spot any tough grime that won’t budge, use a hand scrubbing brush to clean it away.
2. Lag pipes before temperatures get too cold and save £200
Frozen pipes can cause huge problems including stopping your heating from working.
However they can also burst which can cause leaks and flooding. In this case, you would need to call out an emergency plumber which can cost an average of £200.
Inside your home you should lag the pipes in the airing cupboard, pipes running from the boiler, central heating and hot water pipes. This requires insulating them with foam padidng which can be easily purchased at DIY shops.
MyJobQuote has provide a step-by-step guide on how to lag your pipes without needing professional help:
Step one - Measure how much pipe you need to cover before buying foam pipe insulation.
Step two - Cut the foam pipe insulation to the length you require and split it open lengthways on one side. This should be pre-cut when you buy the insulation.
Step three - Place the foam pipe insulation around the pipe using the pre-cut split. If you come to a corner simply use two separate pieces of insulation and tape them together.
3. Boiler stopped working in sub-zero temperatures? Thaw out the condensate pipe with a hot water bottle and save £75
If temperatures fall below zero, the condensate pipe is at risk of freezing which will stop your boiler from working.
If you think this may have happened to your boiler, try out this hack first which could save you £75 before calling in the professionals:
Step one - Locate the condensate pipe, this is usually the pipe that runs from your boiler to the sink. However if you can’t find it in this spot you should check to see if it runs along the outside wall.
Step two - Find the blockage in the pipe. This is where the condensate has collected and frozen.
Step three - Take a hot water bottle and wrap it around the blockage area of the pipe to melt it and restore your boiler to working order.
4. Draught-proof doors with foam tape and save up to £70
If you can already feel a draught from your door, now is the time to act.
If this is left any later, it will increase your energy bills as it will require more heat to warm your house up if a draught is letting cool air in. A professional may charge up to £70 to fix the draught
However the experts at MyJobQuote have revealed how you could fix this problem yourself with foam tape:
Step one - Use a tape measure on the area of your door which is allowing the cold air to flow freely into your home, then cut the tape to this size.
Step two - Simply stick the foam tape over the draught to prevent the cold air from entering your home.
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