7 ways to get your house warmer
If your house doesn’t get as toasty warm as you’d like, especially in the winter months, your boiler could be to blame. But don’t rush out and spend hundreds or even thousands of pounds on a new model just yet. Here are 7 ways to make your home warmer and keep it that way for longer. Best of all: some of them are free.
-
Move the sofa
Is your sofa in front of the radiator? Having the sofa right up against the radiator means you’re heating the back of the furniture rather than the whole room.
If you’re short of wall space and there’s nowhere else to put it, moving the sofa a few inches away from the radiator can make a big difference.
-
Bleed the radiators
Over time, air can build up in your central heating pipes. Radiators that should be full of piping hot water are only warm at the bottom. To check, turn the heating on for a while and see if your radiators are hot from top to bottom.
If they’re not, get the radiator key out (or a screwdriver, if you have more modern radiators) and bleed them. It’s easy to do, just twist the bleed valve until you hear the air rushing out.
Be ready with a cloth to catch any water that comes out once all the air is all expelled (it’ll be dirty, so you don’t want it on the carpet). Then shut the valve again and your radiators will work properly again.
You may need to top your system up with water when you're bleeding radiators, particularly if a lot of air comes out
When you’ve bled your radiators, particularly if a lot of air came out, you’ll need to top the system up with water to get the pressure back up. This is a simple job too. It’s often just a question of turning on a tap on the bottom of your boiler. Check the manual or go online and watch one of the helpful videos to show you how to do it.
-
Stop those drafts
Stop cold air sneaking into the house under doors with one of those sausage dog draught-excluders your gran used to have. They won’t just keep your house warmer, they’re fashionably retro too. Alternatively, you could use self-adhesive rubber seals around the doors and windows to keep the heat in.
-
Open and close the curtains
Open up the curtains and let the sunshine in. It seems simple but it’s a great source of free heat. And when the sun goes down, shut your curtains again to keep that heat in. You’d be amazed how many people don’t do this one simple thing to keep their home cosy and warm.
-
Insulate your loft
Around 25% of the heat loss in your home disappears through the roof (hot air rises after all). So spending a weekend insulating the loft can keep the house warmer, and save you money on your heating bills.
If you’re not skilled at DIY, you could get a local tradesperson to do it for you. You may even be able to get a grant from your energy provider for the work.
A quarter of heat loss in your home happens through your roof, proper insulation can make a dent in your heating bill
-
Wrap up warm
No, we’re not suggesting you put on an extra jumper (though that’s not a bad idea). If you have a hot water tank, make sure it’s properly lagged or insulated. It will keep the water warmer for longer and could cut your energy bills.
And finally,
-
Get a new boiler
If your boiler is more than 10 years old, it might be time to replace it. Modern boilers are more efficient at keeping your home warm and your bills down. So the investment could save you money in the long run.
Talk to a qualified tradesperson about what’s right for your home. You’ll need them to install the new boiler, so why not get them involved at the start of the process to recommend a system that works for your home and your family.
