When it comes to keeping warm, there are many things to consider. Whether it's what rooms need heating, how long you need to keep the heating on for, and if you can afford to turn the heating on in the first place.
And if you do stick the heating on, it may prove much less effective than you realise if you don't do things like don't draught proof your home.
With the new year now here and many people getting back to their normal routine, it's crucial that whether you work from the office or from home, your heating is working to its optimum throughout the day,
READ MORE: Glasgow Met Office yellow weather warning for ice as cold snap hits the city
To help, property expert, Adam Pawson, from leading window specialists, Safestyle, has shared some hacks to help you keep your home warm.
So what does he want you to know? Here's how to keep your house warm...
Draught-proof your doors and windows
If you are often losing heat, a common reason is that you have draughty doors or windows. Adam Pawson, Marketing Director at Safestyle says that to check if you have a draught coming through your door, all you need to do is run your hand around the edge of the door frame. 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.
Common telltale signs to look out for include:
- Cracked window panes
- A cracked or damaged seal
- Condensation on the windows or between the panes of glass
Pawson adds: “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.”
Make sure radiators aren’t blocked
Don't just stick your furniture in your room randomly, consider its placement says Adam. You should try to, where possible, not block radiators with your sofa as this can prevent them from absorbing heat.
He adds: “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.”
Close blinds and curtains to keep the heat in
Experts say that during daylight hours, you should keep your curtains and blinds open to maximise the amount of sunlight entering your home. However as soon as 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. Pawson says that this is a simple way of heating up your home as this ay 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" he explains.
Keep an eye on the weather
Keeping an eye on the weather is crucial, says Pawson, He explains: “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.”
A more long-term solution
If you’re looking for a more long-term solution, energy efficient windows will not only make your home feel warmer but help to save you money on your energy bills, as well as helping 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.
“A quality installation will eliminate draughts as the windows work to keep warm air in and cold air out. Our windows here at Safestyle are all A-rated for efficiency and recommended by the Energy Savings Trust, as they are specifically designed to harvest as much free energy into your home as possible.”
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