1. USE THERMAL CURTAINS ACROSS EXTERNAL DOORS
Thermal curtains are essential for me throughout the year, but especially in winter. Curtain ideas are not only reserved for windows, and I always ensure my front and back doors are covered by a thermal curtain, with some of the curtain pooling on the floor to act as a draft blocker. Studies have shown that around 35% of heat escapes through walls and gaps around doors, making blocking off this area essential for keeping existing heat inside my home.
2. DON’T DOUBT THE POWER OF DRAFT EXCLUDERS
Draft excluders are a must for keeping my house warmer in winter and keeping existing heat in. My top tip is to use excluders across internal doors as well as external doors to make heating one space simpler and more affordable. For example, I always jab a draft excluder along the bottom of the door between my unheated kitchen and the living room to keep my living spaces cozy for less.
3. SEAL OFF WINDOWS
Even with double glazing, windows are a key source of heat loss and cold air in my house. When I put the heating on, I always make sure to close them off with thermal curtains to keep the cold air trapped on one side.
4. KEEP HEAT VENTS AND RADIATORS UNCOVERED
Although heat vents and radiator covers look better than the objects they are covering, covering these essential heating elements up is a great way to waste money on bills. I only have one home heating type – wall-mounted radiators underneath each of my windows, so I make sure to hike the curtains up and lay the bottoms on the window sill to simultaneously uncover the heaters and keep the windows closed off. The result is a much warmer room in half the time.
5. KEEP INTERNAL DOORS CLOSED
It is much easier to heat a smaller space than it is a large open one. Closing internal doors helps to warm up the rooms entirely by keeping the warm air concentrated in one place, and preventing heat from escaping. Just be sure to open the doors periodically throughout the day to ensure good ventilation and airflow throughout the building to prevent mold and musty smells. Problems arise when it comes to my downstairs space, which is an open-plan living diner. There is little I can do to make this space smaller and easier to heat, but having a few spaced-out heaters helps maintain a more consistent temperature throughout the room.