As many are aware, the cost of living rising for millions of people up and down the country with people trying to save as much money as possible.
People are cutting back more than ever now and with Christmas on the horizon, experts have been having their say as they help people to keep some extra cash in the bank.
And whilst there are ways to get financial help such as the Warm Home Discount scheme, there are also things that you can change around your home to keep the warmth in, and hopefully your bills low.
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Because of this, experts at The Underfloor Heating Store have issued some much-needed advice on what could be costing you lots of money in the long run as well as how you can keep your home warm.
So what are potential heat thieves around your home that could be costing you money and how can you prevent heat loss whilst also saving money? Here's what the experts say.
Poor window insulation
Windows with poor insulation can cause heat loss due to radiation through glazing or air leakage. Typically, a property can lose around 10 per cent of its heat through windows. Unfortunately, repairing window glazing isn’t the easiest thing to fix or the cheapest. Incorrectly fitted windows can cost as much as £200 per window to repair.
As a temporary solution, you can use caulk to seal any noticeable cracks near your windows and use a gap filler to easily conceal any tiny gaps that may run along your windows and let the cold air in.
Keeping your windows locked pulls the seals together, blocking up any space that air can possibly leak through too. If you have large windows, consider installing more locks a few inches from the outside edges rather than just one in the centre, to ensure the gap is closed all the way around the seal.
Look out for poorly installed trickle vents as these can easily allow heat to escape too. If your windows have been installed correctly, as an extra measure you could introduce draught proofing or add thick curtains to improve your insulation.
However, if your windows need an update, it’s worth replacing them with secondary glazing to prevent cold draughts and save on your bills over time, as well as improving soundproofing throughout your property.
Incorrect boiler temperature
One important appliance to regularly check is your boiler, as incorrect use or function of the boiler can massively impact your energy bills and the quality of heating around your property.
We’d encourage homeowners to get their boilers to a temperature where they can condense water. At 60°C, your boiler is more readily able to condense water vapour and recover latent heat from this vapourisation, which would otherwise have been lost up the flue.
Altering your boiler temperature to 60°C will help your boiler achieve higher efficiency by utilising its whole functions, resulting in cheaper heating bills.
Poor wall insulation
Low-quality wall insulation can cause a whopping 35-40% of heat loss in homes, making it the biggest source of heat loss, so it’s worth checking if your wall insulation is of high quality! UK homes built before 1930 will have solid walls and any homes built after 1930 will have cavity walls.
Fortunately, cavity wall insulation is an easy and relatively pocket-friendly process that injects the cavities of your walls with insulating material, slowing the movement of heat within your walls, and keeping your home warmer for longer.
Solid wall insulation is a lot more complicated and costly to properly insulate. Therefore, ensure you seek professional advice on how to add further insulation to your home if your property was built pre-1930.
Poorly positioned thermostat
It is important that your thermostat is installed in an appropriate location so that the thermostat can accurately read the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding it. If placed in the wrong location, such as a hallway or near an entryway to your home, the thermostat could be detecting lower temperatures due to a number of factors surrounding its atmosphere, including cold draughts around a doorway.
Thermostats are best positioned in the main areas of the home, ideally a living room or landing, but never above a radiator or near a draughty door.
Remember that increasing the temperature of your thermostat does not provide instant heating either, instead, it consumes more energy over a longer period of time.
Your thermostat has a specific temperature comfort level and is designed to pause heating after reaching a certain degree. To warm your home faster, you should instead turn up the radiator valve in rooms that are in use and turn them off completely for rooms that are not. This way, heat is sent directly to the rooms needed, while you don’t waste energy on heating rooms that are mostly empty or not in use.
Low-quality flooring
Similar to low-quality windows, homes can also lose around 10% of their heat through the floor. Well-insulated underfloor heating is a great alternative. Underfloor heating is an added heat source that comes from the floor rather than usual radiators, meaning less energy could be required to warm your home.
Similar to your home’s walls, there are two main types of flooring, solid and suspended timber, so it’s worth checking that your underfloor ventilators are clear and unblocked. If they are clear with no blockages, you can use a thick underlay to prevent any air from coming through the floorboards allowing colder air to seep through.
Easy ways to prevent heat loss and keep warm this winter
1. Loft-hatch insulation
A loft hatch can be a source of draughts, so draught-proofing and insulating an existing loft hatch can prevent possible heat loss. Insulating your loft hatch can also prevent condensation issues, avoiding possible rot and decay to your roof structure. Insulating your loft hatch will depend on the type you have. A lift-out hatch, which is common in older properties, can be insulated by glueing a plastic bag to the hatch and filling this with insulation material and taping this closed. Hatches with attached ladders can also be treated in the same way, however, we would recommend using foil as only a thinner layer will be needed.
2. Draught excluder
One easy, cost-effective way to prevent draughts and heat loss is a simple draught excluder. As well as sealing any exterior or interior doors outside of your home, a draught excluder can also be used for your windows too. Draught excluders can be moved around your home and can also be used as decorative pieces if you find one to match your interior. Heavyweight polyester products, wool or cotton fabrics are the best for preventing draughts.
3. Draught-proofing strips
Draught-proofing strips are useful around windows and doors and can also prevent slamming. If you’re unsure of where the draught is coming from, light a candle near the window or door and wherever the smoke or flame is blowing near is the source of the draught. Make sure the strip is tightly installed on the inside of a window or door frame, especially when the door or window is closed.
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