Winter in the UK brings with it cold temperatures, heavy rain and high winds. It is important you stay warm during the colder months, to preserve your health. But with the rising heating bills, this can become very costly, very quickly. Preparing your home now, during the warmer months, helps you to avoid costly repairs, to keep your home efficient and warmer for longer. To help you, we have created this essential guide which includes 10 crucial actions you need to take before the cold weather hits.
Seal Draughts Around the Home
Draught-proofing (sealing draughts) is an important step (and an easy step) you can take to increase energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact ensure the comfort of everyone in your home. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical home could save up to £30 per year, simply by draught proofing. The older and draughtier your home is, the more energy you will save by taking this simple measure. As well as saving energy, draught-proofing will help to provide a consistent temperature and reduce external noise coming into the house.
When draught-proofing, you should target:
• Windows
• Doors
• Skirting boards
• Floorboards
• Letterboxes
• Loft hatches
• Chimneys
How to draught-proof:
There are various ways you can draught-proof your home:
Draught-proofing windows: apply self-adhesive foam, metal, or brush draught strips around the window frame to seal gaps. You can also use window film or other insulation materials, such as thermal curtains, to further reduce heat loss.
Draught-proofing doors: block gaps at the bottom of the door with draught-excluders, install brush or wiper strips around the perimeter of the door, and fill gaps between the door frame and surround brickwork with silicone or calk.
Draught-proofing chimneys: fit a chimney cap over the chimney pot and/or use chimney draught excluders such as inflatable balloons.
Draught-proofing other areas of the home:
Seal cracks and gaps in skirting boards and floorboards with silicone or calk.
Install a letterbox draught excluder, flap, or brush to block draughts.
Seal loft hatches with a compression seal or foam strip around the perimeter.
Bleed Radiators and Use Reflector Panels
Bleeding your radiators is an essential part of maintaining your central heating system, it ensures your radiators operate efficiently and your energy consumption is reduced. Over time, air becomes trapped in the radiators, this can prevent water from circulating properly, which reduces the heat effectiveness.
By bleeding your radiators, you will remove cold spots caused by trapped air, relieving any strain the trapped air is putting on your boiler, and reducing the noise the radiators make.
Reflector panels are another excellent way to increase energy efficiency, lower the heating bills and reduce heat loss. Foil reflector panels designed specifically for radiators work by reflecting heat that would have been lost through the wall, back into the room. These are particularly useful when the radiators are placed on external walls. These foil panels are easy to install and are an effective tool to prevent heat wastage.
Service or Replace Your Boiler
Your boiler is responsible for heating your radiators and your home, which is why it is important that it is running efficiently and effectively. You should always make sure your boi8ler is services every year by a Gas Safe engineer, this will not only help to make sure it works efficiently, but it will also help to prevent breakdowns when the weather changes to freezing temperatures, and it will lower the energy your boiler uses.
If your boiler is 10 years old or more, you should consider upgrading it to an A-rated condensing boiler. Older boilers have lower efficiency, higher fuel consumption and a bigger environmental impact. They can also be a potential safety hazard and will typically cost more to fix (and that’s if you can find the right parts for it).
Upgrade Heating Controls
Fitting programmable thermostats and TRVs to control heating schedules and zones allows you to have better control over energy use and your level of comfort. This also helps you to avoid overheating unused rooms, or rooms that are smaller and tend to become too hot when the heating is left on for long periods.
Top Up Loft Insulation
Ensuring your loft is properly insulated is one of the easiest ways to cut heat loss. Your loft requires a minimum of 270mm of mineral wool or equivalent to ensure effectively insulation. It is important that you do not compress the insulation by storing heavy items on top of it.
Insulate Pipes and Water Tank
Insulating both your pipes and water tank is another effective way to keep your home warm and your energy bills low. Using foam lagging on the exposed pipes in your home (such as under the sink, in the loft and garage) helps to prevent the pipes from freezing and ensures the hot water retains its temperature for longer. An 80mm+ BS-approved cylinder jacket should be installed on hot water tanks to retain the heat as much as possible and prevent freezing when the central heating isn’t on.
Insulate Walls Where Possible
Wherever possible, you should insulate the walls, this will help to retain heat in the home, especially in wind-exposed areas. Cavity wall insulation is suitable for homes, while solid wall insulations (internal/external) for ideal for older properties.
Clear Gutters and Check Roof
To prevent damp, water damage and leaks during storms and heavy rains, it is important that you ensure your gutters are clean and free from blockages. You should also check for loose tiles, damaged flashing and signs of leaks.
Install Heavy Curtains or Thermal Blinds
A quick way to make a noticeable difference to the heat of your home, is to add heavy, lined curtains, or thermal blinds, especially on single-glazed or north-facing windows. Be sure to close the curtains/blinds at dusk to block draughts and reduce heat loss. Not only does this have an immediate positive impact, but it also an affordable way to improve the heat efficiency of your home.
Check Your Home’s Ventilation
While it is important to do everything you can to keep the heat in, you also need to make sure your home has adequate ventilation. It is crucial that you balance insulation with airflow to protect indoor air quality. The ventilation in your home will help to prevent damp and mould forming during winter months, when the windows have to stay closed. Ensure trickle vents, extractor fans, and bathroom vents are all working properly.
Every winter, UK homes lose a lot of heat, heat that you are paying for, while also facing the risk of water damage. But if you plan and act now, before the cold weather hit and repair backlogs start to form, these ten steps can help you to protect your property, lower your energy bills and ensure your complete comfort through the cold months.