Keeping heat in your home should be a top priority. Not only does it help to keep you warmer during the winter months but it also helps keep your energy bills down – considerations that prompted 13 million Brits to avoid using central heating last year.
So, what steps should you take to ensure that your home retains as much heat as possible?
In this article, we’ll share four ways to stop heat escaping from your home.
1. Insulate your roof
Roughly one-quarter of your home’s heat loss will be through the roof, so insulating it is an effective way to lower your heating bills. As long as your loft is easy to access and doesn’t have any damp or condensation, this is even a job you could do yourself. Simply go up with some rolls of mineral wool, adding a layer between the joists and another layer over the joists at right angles. However, it might be worth hiring a professional for peace of mind that the job’s done right.
2. Insulate your walls
A significant amount of heat can escape from your home through the walls. This is especially the case for cavity walls, a type of wall with a hollow centre that’s usually found in older homes. You can hire experts to insulate cavity walls by injecting special insulation material such as mineral wool or polystyrene beads from the outside.
3. Upgrade your windows
Windows can account for as much as one-tenth of your home’s total heat loss. You can get rid of most of this by investing in double- or even triple-glazed windows. Next, you should use a high-quality sealant to eliminate any gaps or cavities in your window frames. As an extra measure, you can install thick curtains over your windows for additional insulation.
4. Draughtproof your doors
A surprising amount of heat flows through the gaps in, underneath and around your doors, both internal and external. You can use brush or hinged draught excluders to block the gaps at the bottom, as well as draught-proofing strips for the gaps at the sides. Consider also installing a keyhole cover and a letterbox brush or flap for your front door.
Keeping the heat in your home can be a challenge. But by implementing our tips above, you should be well on your way to keeping your home warm and your energy bills as low as possible. Which of these heat loss prevention methods will you be using in your home?
conclusion
effectively preventing heat loss from our homes is not only vital for our comfort but also for reducing energy consumption and combating climate change. Implementing the four strategies discussed—improving insulation, sealing gaps and cracks, upgrading windows and doors, and optimizing heating systems—can collectively create a more energy-efficient and comfortable living space. By taking these steps, homeowners can significantly reduce their energy bills, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a greener future. It’s a win-win scenario that not only saves money but also helps protect our environment, making these strategies essential for any responsible homeowner.
