It’s that time of year again. With temperatures dropping and the cold taking over, homeowners across the country are seeking out tips to fight off the chill. Read our handy guide for 10 practical and budget-friendly ways to keep your home warm this winter.
Layer up
Before looking to alternative (and more costly) heat sources, keep warm by filling your home with a selection of soft furnishings. Add an extra blanket to your bed, invest in some new throws for your sofa or get out the winter duvet to conserve warmth. You could also wrap yourself up in a thick jumper or dressing gown to save putting the heating on. Don’t forget your slippers!
Be clever with your curtains
Stop draughts from getting around your windows by purchasing some new curtains. Heavier, thermal-lined curtains are a great source of insulation and can reduce heat loss significantly. Leave them open until sunset to allow warming sunlight to filter into your home, and close them when you’re out and after dark for extra warmth.
Prepare your radiators
With energy prices on the rise, when you switch your heating on, you should take steps to ensure it’s working effectively. If you notice that your radiators aren’t performing as they should, feel for cold patches and listen out for strange sounds. Should these things persist, you’ll need to bleed them. Doing so will allow hot water to circulate more evenly, warm your home and keep your bills more manageable.
Pro tip: don’t keep your furniture too close to your radiators as this can stop the heat from circulating effectively.
Take control of your thermostat
Once your radiators are up to speed, another thing you can do to keep your house warm without incurring costs is to switch out your old thermostat for a new one. Modern thermostats are often controlled via apps, giving you more freedom over when to turn your heating on and off.
If you aren’t that tech-savvy, you should aim to use your thermostat’s timer. You can save a lot of time and money by programming the heating to kick in 30 minutes before your alarm goes off or just before you return home from work.
Insulate doors and windows
Even with the heating on, draughts can still make it through doors and windows. Luckily, it’s easy to draught-proof these points of entry and give the cold air nowhere to go. In addition to investing in heavy curtains, you can crack down on heat loss with DIY draught-proofing solutions such as sealant or self-adhesive foam tape.
For doors, draught excluders can provide some much-needed protection against harsh temperatures. They are especially useful for filling in gaps between the bottom of the door and the floor and will act as a reliable barrier to the elements while stopping too much heat from escaping your home.
As well as insulating your windows and doors, make sure they’re closed too. You’d be surprised at the difference this makes.
Cover keyholes and letterboxes
It might not seem like it, but the gaps found in keyholes and letterboxes could also be adding to the chill. Choose a keyhole cover to close off this draught-prone space and add an extra layer of protection to your letterbox with a brush-filled inner plate and flap. Simple.
Bring out the rugs
Even though they look great, floorboards and tiles can be a bad fit for the winter. That’s because the materials used in these flooring options often struggle to retain heat and are an easy target for cold air. Covering your floors with cosy, stylish rugs will not only keep your feet warm, but they’ll also keep your property well-insulated too. Just be sure to choose a style and colour that matches your room.
Warm up the bed
If the introduction of a thicker duvet or an additional blanket just isn’t enough, warm up your bed with a hot water bottle. Prepare this ahead of time and place it beneath the sheets in the lead-up to bedtime. Anywhere between 10-15 minutes should have your bed nice and toasty for your arrival. Don’t forget to remove the hot water bottle before settling in for the night.
Insulate the loft
As around 25% of heat is lost through roofs, insulating your loft is one of the best ways to keep your home warm. Regardless of the type of loft insulation you choose – rolls or boards – it’s easy to install too. Simply read an installation guide before you get started – we guarantee that you’ll notice the difference!
Move around
Tempting as it may be to stay under a blanket on the sofa, don’t let the cold stop you from being active. When you’re inside, move around the house at least once every hour and try not to stay seated for too long. Exercise, no matter how leisurely, will get the blood pumping and keep you warm. If you want to go the extra mile, try a makeshift home circuit that involves using baked beans as weights and the stairs for step-up routines. Daily yoga poses will go a long way too.
Heating your home with Doorfit
Thank you for reading our article on how to keep your home warm this winter. For more helpful household tips, click through to our blog. Be sure to visit our shop for the very best in house-warming architectural hardware.