How to keep your home warm in the winter: 22 cost-effective ways to insulate your home (2023)

Die warme Jahreszeit neigt sich dem Ende zu, was bedeutet, dass es jetzt an der Zeit ist, mit der Isolierung Ihres Hauses zu beginnen und darüber nachzudenken, wie Sie Ihr Zuhause im Winter warm halten können.

With October's peak energy price hike approaching, it's more important than ever that we take stock of our current home's energy efficiency and do what we can to improve it. Important components such as our boiler and central heating system, as well as good insulation on our doors and windows, should definitely be a priority, but there are also minor changes you can make to be more comfortable in winter andSave energy at home.

"Everywhere we look there is news of rising costs, which at times can seem incredibly disheartening, especially as we head into the colder months," says Jo Winston ofHouses in St Modwen(opens in a new tab). "But there are some simple but effective steps you can take to keep your home warm while saving a bit of money."

How do you keep your house warm in winter?

Whether you are lookingWays to stop drafts from doors, or if you're wondering how to fill your floorboards, we've selected top tips that cover everything you can do to keep your home from feeling too cold while keeping your energy bills as low as possible.

Cooler mornings and cooler afternoons don't necessarily mean a huge increase in your energy bill! There are some investment suggestions that come with upfront costs but will save you money in the long run, as well as cheaper moves that can make a big difference.

1. Have your boiler checked

First, make sure your boiler can handle the rigors of a cold winter. "If your stove is getting old and has seen better days, it's probably not running as efficiently as it used to," advises Jordan Chance, heating expert atPlumbNation(opens in a new tab).

Broken water heaters can massively increase your heating bills as they have to work much harder to get your home up to temperature. We recommend that you have your boiler checked every 12 months (preferably before the winter season) to ensure your boiler is working efficiently and safely.

A new stove comes with a high upfront cost, but it will definitely help keep your energy bills from skyrocketing during the colder months.

2. Add more layers

It goes without saying that the more layers your home has, the warmer it gets. Having extra soft furniture on hand can make all the difference when it comes to saving money on heating. Thinkbest pitches, quilts and even heavy blankets and you can stay warm on cold nights without having to pay your energy bills.

3. Update your thermostat

A thermostat regulates the temperature in your home by communicating with your boiler. Thermostats, especially in older homes with older heating systems, can deteriorate over time. This deterioration can cause delays in the ignition of the boiler or the temperature in the house being much higher than necessary,” warns Jordan.

"Upgrading your thermostat could allow for much more accurate communication between the thermostat and the boiler, avoiding wasted energy and saving money."

“Using a timer thermostat offers a quick and easy solution to effectively controlling your heating,” explains Jordan. There is aSmart-Home-Trendbecause modern thermostats can be controlled from a mobile phone so that it is nice and warm at home. Some of them are designed to save energy, so they turn off automatically when you're not at home.

Investing in these app controlled thermostats could be worth it as you can easily monitor your energy usage and save money in the long run.

4. Rearrange the furniture

"Clogging up your radiators with sofas or beds can have a huge impact on the temperature in your room, so it may be time to rearrange your furniture," explains Jo of St Modwen Homes. "Make sure the radiators aren't blocked and arrange your furniture so that the space is open and easy to heat."

The trick is to place the most important pieces of furniture like the bed, sofa and desks close enough to the radiators to feel the benefits of the heat, but with enough space for it to circulate. Keep them away from windows and doors so you don't feel a draft when using them.

5. Leave the curtains open until 3 p.m. M

While closed curtains keep warmth in at night, leave them open during the day. The sunlight will naturally warm up the room, which will help you when you finally close the curtains when the cold night comes.

The sun usually sets around 4pm. M. In the dead of winter, leave the curtains open until about 3pm to make the most of the natural heat. M

6. Protect your windows from drafts

except to knowhow to insulate your home, draft proof windows are an easy and rewarding DIY task. All you have to do is apply self-adhesive foam tape to a window frame (or have a local technician do the job). Drafts also appear in the cracks between the window frame and the surrounding walls; It's worth considering using these with caulk or caulk.

7. Close all doors (and windows)

This one may seem too obvious, but that also makes it easy to overlook. Leaving doors open is a quick way to let heat escape from a room and means you're more likely to turn on your central heating at night. Simply closing the doors makes your space feel so much warmer. And of course that also applies to windows.

8. Fill in the planks

Stripped planks look fantastic, but the small gaps between planks can let in really cold air. Try to use padding to prevent drafts from coming through the gaps.

We highly recommend itGap filler for Draughtex floorboards(opens in a new tab)de Amazonas It is a rubbery material that is easily pushed between the boards to seal the gaps. It comes with a handy roller tool to make the job a breeze, and it's available in a variety of widths to suit different floors.

9. Put rugs on your floor

If you're looking for a quick fix and don't have time to seal your boards, find a rug or two and lay them on the floor. It's fashionable to layer yoursbest carpets, so you don't have to look for a large design to cover a larger area and your home will instantly feel warmer and more inviting.

Wool is a natural insulator, so a rug made from this material is ideal. “Part of wool's insulating ability is its ability to balance humidity in a space as the fibers absorb and release water vapour,” explains Julian Downes, Managing Director ofPhases(opens in a new tab).

10. Drain cooler

Make sure your radiators are working to their full potential by venting them to ensure air isn't trapped and hampering your heating performance. It's not difficult to learnhow to bleed a radiatorand it's definitely something that should be on your winter to-do list.

11. Add candles

Candles instantly make a room feel cozier, and while they're not powerful enough to warm a room on their own, they can certainly make the environment feel a little warmer. You can design candles by grouping them in yourCoffee table ideasor next to himIdeas for the fireplace in the living room, so that they give off additional heat when burned. You'll feel much more comfortable snuggled up on the sofa when a few candles are lit nearby.

12. Insulate doors

Whether your door is old or new, you can still benefit from adding tensile strips between the door and the frame. This can work for both interior and exterior doors. For the gaps between the bottom of the door and the floor, you can purchase a special brushed or hinged seal. A simple plush stopper can also be placed in front of the door to reduce breezes between rooms, or you can even opt for a fun, novelty design.

13. Use thick curtains

Thermal lined roller blinds can help you keep out the cold more effectively, especially if you have single pane windows. If thermal sunglasses aren't in your budget, at least make sure your sunglasses are lined. The thicker the better, generally, and blackout curtains always do a good job of hiding the heat. Thecurtain ideaIt's great and should really make a difference on chilly mornings when the heating may have been turned off overnight.

"Keeping your curtains closed or investing in a thermal curtain liner can also help prevent hot air from escaping — this trick alone can reduce heat loss by up to 25 percent," says heating expert Jordan.

14. Invest in an electric blanket

Isbest electric blanketsThey're a surefire way to keep you from feeling cold on a frigid winter night. If you want to feel warmer in your bed, opt for an electric blanket underneath that rests on top of your mattress.

Alternatively, an electric blanket can be placed from your sofa onto your duvet and will keep you warm when you need it. if you are wonderingHow much does it cost to run an electric blanket?It depends on the type, but they are a cheap alternative to other heating options.

15. Place a floating shelf over the radiators

Control the heat flow in a room with afloating shelf idea. Placing a floating shelf above the radiator will help dissipate heat in the room and prevent it from rising to the ceiling where it is wasted. Additionally, shelves offer the added bonus of additional storage space or the option to select a photo shelf.

16. Insulate the attic

If your attic isn't already insulated, you could be losing up to a quarter of your home's heat through your roof. It's a bit like going into the snow without a hat! Insulating your attic, attic or flat roof is a simple and effective way to reduce heat loss and cut down on pesky heating bills.

Roof insulationit lasts at least 40 years and should pay for itself many times over, so it's definitely worth considering the investment.

17. Draft-tight dormer hatches

While you're there, try installing draft strips around the frame of the attic hatch. When it comes toInsulate an attic hatch, the door itself can also be insulated, usually with a styrofoam sheet over it.

18. Seal the baseboards

"It might seem like a small change, but using grout to fill the gaps between the top and bottom of baseboards can really make a difference," says Claire Osborne, energy expert atuSwitch(opens in a new tab). Your home will retain heat better when your baseboards are nice and secure. So if they are very old and worn out, it might be worth reinstalling them.

19. Check your TVRs

TRVs are the valves on your radiators that are numbered and are used to control the hot water going to your radiator and therefore the temperature of the radiator. If they are all set to 2 or less, you will have a hard time feeling the benefits of having the heating on and your home will take much longer to heat up.

“We always advise our customers to set the downstairs TRVs to 5 and the upstairs TRVs to 2 or 3, which allows some of the downstairs heat to come up and also heat the upstairs,” says Rebecca Lacey, co-owner ofLacey plumbing and heating(opens in a new tab).

20. Cover the keyholes

The keyhole may be small, but that doesn't mean it doesn't help prevent drafts from entering your living room. You can attach a specially designed cover that drops a metal disc over the keyhole to keep the wind from whistling in - simple but effective. These are available at most hardware stores and on Amazon.

21. Before laying a carpet, adjust the base

The carpet and underlay you choose can also make a big difference in the insulation of your home. According to the experts at Carpetright, having the right underlay for your floor can save you up to 15 percent on your energy bills.

Jemma Dayman, Contractor for Teppichecarpet on the right(opens in a new tab)tells us: “The backing is often overlooked, but it is a very important element when buying a carpet. It not only insulates but also dampens, acting as a buffer protecting the floor itself and as an acoustic barrier between floors.

22. Use your heating timer

Darren Pelusi, Sales Manager atViola houses(opens in a new tab)recommends scheduling oven time half an hour before you wake up so your house is nice and warm when you get out of bed. "You can also set the heating to come on when you get home," he suggests. "This prevents your heating from going into overdrive when you turn it on and helps you reduce overall heating costs."

How do you heat a cold house?

"From a 'central heating' point of view, there are several measures to heat a cold house. The first is to reduce the flow rate of the combi unit,” explains heating expert Rebecca. "Not to be confused with turning down your thermostat, we're talking about the temperature your boiler heats the water to before sending it to your radiators."

Most gas boilers are set to what is known as an 80/60 flow and return temperature, which means that the boiler heats the water to 80°C and after passing through all the radiators the water returns to the boiler at 60°C. 20°C to the rooms. A boiler with a 70/50 flow and return ratio can also heat your home and spend less money.

After weighing the pros and cons ofGas- vs. ElectroboilerInvest in the system that best suits your home so you can feel the benefits this winter. You may want to invest in good insulation for your home. "It's also important to note that leaving the heat on low all day won't reduce heating bills!" warns PlumbNation's Jordan. "Turning the heating on only when you need it is the best way to save energy."

How does a cold house stay warm at night?

In order to keep your home warm throughout the night, good insulation is crucial. "Insulation is important," says Rebecca of Lacey Plumbing and Heating. "You can have the best water heater and the most economical heating system in the world, but if your house isn't properly insulated, you'll end up freezing almost as soon as the heating is turned off at night."

Covering cracks, e.g. Around doors, windows, baseboards, floorboards and keyholes, for example, makes a huge difference at night and allows each room to retain heat better so you don't have to leave the heat on after you leave. to the bed.

"It's also worth checking what type of wall and dormer insulation you have in your property and whether you qualify for government-sponsored cavity wall insulation," advises Rebecca.

"Proper insulation can mean a higher initial cost, but this change will pay off in the long run," explains Jo of St Modwen Homes. "Installing proper insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy use."