How to winter proof your home
Tuesday 29th October 2013
The clocks have rolled back an hour last weekend, the British Summer Time is officially over and the chill in the air is a lot more noticeable. With the dark nights set in we should all be snuggling up at the fire with our family and friends.
There are many different reasons why we need to winter proof our home this year (apart from the news stories that this is to be a severe winter) no one wants to be sitting in a miserable draughty house this year.
Adequately winter proofing your home can also have the benefit of using less energy to heat your house, thereby reducing both your fuel bill and your CO2 emissions. Something many people overlook is the cost involved in repairing any damage caused by winter storms, both in terms of bills and the increase in your insurance premiums that making a claim will cause.
Follow these simple tips to keep your home well insulated this winter- it will save you a small fortune:
Reduce heat loss from the fireplace
• Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
• When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly -- approximately 1 inch -- and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
• If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
• If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
• Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
Take advantage of heat from the sun
Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
Energy saving tips
Some of these energy-saving tips may seem obvious but they can make a big difference when it comes to reducing your fuel bill.
• Set your heating to come on just before you get up and switch off after you've gone to bed. If it's very cold, set your heating to come on earlier and turn off later rather than turning the thermostat up.
• If you can't heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room throughout the day and your bedroom just before you go to bed. Remember to close curtains and shut doors to keep heat in the rooms you use most.
Keeping the heat in
• Insulating your home not only keeps you warm and healthy but will also help to keep your costs down.
• Fit draught proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors.
• Make sure that your loft has at least 10-11 inches (270 mm) of insulation. Any home with 4 inches (100 mm) or less should have it topped up.
• If you have wall cavities, make sure that they are insulated too.
• Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes.
• Draw your curtains at dusk to help keep the heat generated inside your rooms.
• Make sure that your radiators are not obstructed by curtains or furniture.
