Despite the freezing weather, many households are looking for ways they can keep their energy bills down as much as possible amid the cost of living crisis.
Home heating expert Dave Raval told The Mirror that one of the most effective ways to save money on your bills is by saving the energy you don't actually use by finding the areas of your home where heat could be escaping. LoftZone CEO Dave advised: "A quarter of a house's heat is lost by draughts leaking through doors and windows, so it's vital to find those gaps and plug them efficiently."
"With the rising costs, you can easily see why draught-proofing your home would be an effective method of helping you to save up to £250 per year off your energy bills," Dave added. The expert said that there are three key steps any household can take to limit the amount of heat escaping their home.
1. Check for gaps
The first thing to do is to locate the areas of your home where heat is likely to be escaping. "Don't let the money you've spent on heating your house seep through the gaps," Dave explained warned.
"One cold evening, go around with your hand across every window and across every door and feel for draughts. Older houses typically lose more heat through gaps in doors, floorboards, and windows, so it's vital to plug these gaps."
2. Do some DIY
Once you've discovered the areas of your home where heat is escaping, you don't have to splash out on expensive solutions - in fact, fixing the problem might not even cost a penny. Dave advised putting items you already have at home, such as cushions, blankets or makeshift draught excluders which can be made by stuffing tights or socks, in front of window and door seals to stop draughts.
Alternatively, you can take a trip to your nearest DIY store or shop online to find some cheap products that can help with the problem. "Buy some cheap adhesive foam strips to block cold air, and tape around parts of your window can also help," the expert suggested.
"Perhaps consider thicker curtains," Dave added. "Door curtains used to be a popular thing which has gone out of fashion, but these are great for keeping in the heat too."
3. Go into your loft
If you're lucky enough to live in a home with a loft, it's worth heading up there to check that your set-up is as efficient as it can be to avoid losing valuable heat. A quarter of heat within a typical British home escapes through the roof after leaking out via the loft.
"Most people have some loft insulation, usually between the joists and maybe two three inches, but you need a lot more that you think," Dave explained. "The Government recommendation is a minimum is 300 millimetres, which is almost a foot."
One of the things many households may not know about insulation is that squashing it down can make if 50% less efficient. "Fluffy loft insulation works by trapping air so when you squash it you get rid of all those air bubbles, and it doesn't work so well," Dave said.
"We love to use our lofts for storage or to wander around it for access. However, don't put your boxes straight on the insulation or board down directly onto the joists, doing this will double the heat loss which has a big impact on your bills.
The expert advised that installing raised loft boarding can be a good way to prevent heat from being lost. He explained: "A raised loft system works by creating a raised platform for boarding to rest on above the insulation while allowing it to retain its full depth to help with your energy savings."
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