Heating our homes this winter has never been so expensive. Doing the rounds are various tips on how to save money and energy but what exactly will work for you?
Many of the tips involve buying something extra and while this may save you money in the long run, you may not have the spare cash to splash in the short term. Luckily, there are things you can do that won't cost the earth - quite literally.
Now the cold days and nights are starting to set in, many will be pondering on when to switch the heating on. British Gas says Brits typically flick the switch or turn up the dial on their heating on October 24, so Monday, if the firm is correct.
No one would recommend young children or the elderly should remain in cold conditions but heating the human is one suggestion and property experts from window specialists, Safestyle, say their tips for 'layering up' the home could help you prolong that switch on date. Of course, a lot will depend on what kind of home you live in, your lifestyle and your individual circumstances, but here are the firm's tips for saving on your heating bill.
Make sure radiators aren’t blocked
A simple way to make sure the heat in your home isn’t escaping is to consider the placement of your furniture. Adam Pawson, marketing director at Safestyle, says: “Where possible, try not to block radiators with furniture to prevent them from absorbing heat.”
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He continues: “If you are limited on space and do have furniture placed next to radiators, pull the sofa or table slightly ajar from the radiator to enable a better circulation of heat around the room.”
Draught-proof your doors and windows
Often, the source of lost heat in your home is down to draughty doors or windows. “To check if you have a draught coming through your door, run your hand around the edge of the door frame", says Adam. " If you can feel cold air coming through, adjust the latch or hinges to get a better fit of the door in the frame. Alternatively, try draught proofing strips to fill the gap. These will help to draught-proof your uPVC door.”
When it comes to checking if your windows have a draught, the property expert says: “To check if your windows have a draught coming through, there are some common tell-tale signs to look out for. These include; cracked window panes, a cracked or damaged seal or condensation on the windows or between the panes of glass. If you do spot any of these signs, don’t worry because there are a couple of quick fix solutions you can try.
“One budget-friendly hack you can try is to use clear nail polish to paint over the cracked seal. You might need to paint on two to three coats to ensure the crack is fully covered.
“Another way to insulate your home, which also looks great too, is to layer up on window dressings by using a combination of sheer curtains, blinds and drapes.”
Close blinds and curtains to keep the heat in
A simple trick that helps to insulate the home is simply by keeping blinds and curtains closed. “During daylight hours, keep your curtains and blinds open to maximise the amount of sunlight entering your home. Once it gets dark, it’s important to close the curtains to retain as much heat as possible.”
Leave the oven door open after cooking
If you’re looking for a smart hack that provides heat, without putting the heating on, a trick is to leave the oven door open after cooking. He says: “A really simple way of heating up your home is to leave the oven door open after cooking - that way you can heat your home and cook while using the same amount of energy. To maximise this hack, make sure to keep windows and doors closed to retain the heat.”
Pay attention to the weather
A short-term fix to keeping the heat in your home can be as simple as paying attention to the weather. “Older windows tend to let a lot of the precious heat from your home escape, meaning that you're using more energy than you probably need to when heating each room. A quick, short-term solution you can take to prevent this is to ensure that you keep windows closed on colder days to help keep the heat in.”
Of course, in addition to these tips, there are energy upgrades or alternatives that you can invest in. Adam says a more long-term solution to keeping an older home warm is to invest in energy efficient windows, which he says will not only make your home feel warmer but help to save you money on your energy bills and help to reduce your carbon footprint.
Adam says: “The amount of savings varies depending on property size but a typical, gas-heated semi-detached home could save between £120-£155 per year by choosing energy-efficient windows. Given the current energy crisis, it’s never been more important to keep on top of window maintenance. A window's overall thermal efficiency, solar gain (heat coming in from outside) and air leakage, contributes to its official rating, with anything above C considered good."
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