As we tumble into winter, thoughts inevitably turn towards the colder, longer nights and, of course, ways to keep our homes warm. In recent years, there has been an explosion in innovative heating systems offering far more efficiency than was possible even just 20 years ago….
When used in conjunction with improved insulation, better window technology, more airtight sealants, and draught excluders, homeowners these days have a vast array of ways to keep the warmth in – and the cold out – of their houses.
Here are just five ways you can heat your home and improve heat retention through the coming winter months:
Insulate your home
Although insulation won’t generate heat on its own, it will nonetheless stop any warmth you have built up from escaping. The natural movement of heat dictates that it travels from warm areas to cooler areas (also known as convection) – and the same applies within your home.
Insulating your home properly (including inside and outside walls) helps trap heat and minimises this movement.
All homes have cooler areas – examples include conservatories, lofts, basements or just those rooms you don’t use so frequently. By insulating your home, you can prevent heat travelling and escaping. It is particularly important to insulate the outside walls – but for the best results look at insulating the roof space and interior walls as well.
Invest in new windows – and make sure they’re kept shut!
Poor glazing or gaps around windows are a primary source of heat loss – particularly in older homes. If you have old single-glazed windows, by replacing them with double-glazing you could experience 80-100% greater thermal insulation. Also, remember to keep all windows firmly closed. An open window in a house can lead to 25-30% heat loss.
Add new heaters/change outdated ones
These days, there is a vast array of new ways to heat your home, ranging from traditional fires to intelligent smart heaters that monitor the temperature of a room and increase or decrease the heat accordingly.
Adding new heaters (or replacing older models) will considerably increase the heat-generating capacity in your home while also allowing you greater control over the temperatures in individual rooms. Companies such as IGS (heating engineers in Stafford) can advise you on the best system for your particular requirements.
Install a smart thermostat
Heating systems have come a very long way in recent years and the increasing use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in smart home devices is helping drive down utility bills, while also aiding with eliminating heat wastage. A smart thermostat allows you to accurately monitor your energy use while also giving a clear idea of temperatures around your home – putting you in full control. Smart thermostats can be retrofitted to most existing
heating systems and could end up resulting in considerable savings on your heating bills.
Shut curtains and doors
It might sound rather obvious, but closing doors helps to stop heat escaping from rooms. Curtains also offer insulation over windows. Try opening curtains during the day to take advantage of the natural heat of the sun – then closing them at night to help trap the built-up warmth. In particular, thermally lined curtains can be particularly effective at retaining heat, keeping a room warm long after the sun has already set.
I hope these tips to Heat Up Your Home help keep you cosy this winter!
