Best Way to Heat Your House in Winter

In Britain, people typically switch their central heating on in October and use it daily until March or April. This coincides with the clocks going back, the drop in temperature and Winter Fuel Payments – to anyone who receives the state alimony.

Heating homes accounts for over 70% of household energy consumption. So reducing this effigy – while keeping homes warm enough – not only cuts free energy bills, but helps meet the carbon reduction commitments that the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland government is legally required to deliver.

The most recent figures prove that 2.38m households in the UK are in fuel poverty – which basically means that almost 11% of British homes cannot afford to keep warm. But while the scale of this problem is significant, non all the solutions demand to exist complex and costly. Then here are x elementary tips for keeping your home warm for little or no extra toll – merely in time for that severe weather condition alarm.

1. Use your curtains

Heat from the sun is gratuitous and so make the well-nigh of information technology. Open your curtains and let the sunlight in during the day to make utilise of this free oestrus. When it gets dark, shut your curtains, which act as another layer of insulation and keep warmth in your rooms. You should also brand sure you lot don't have any leaks or gaps so that the warm air can stay in and the common cold air stays out – this also helps to reduce condensation.

two. Use timers on your fundamental heating

The Centre for Sustainable Energy advises that programming your banality to plough the heating on a lilliputian earlier – such as 30 minutes earlier you get up in the morning – simply at a lower temperature is cheaper than turning it on just as you lot demand information technology at a higher temperature. This is because a boiler heats upwardly at a abiding speed whether you set your thermostat to twenty°C or 30°C. Just don't make the fault of leaving your heating on low all day – because then you're just paying for heat when y'all don't need it.

three. Movement your sofa

It might feel slap-up to have your favourite seat in forepart of the radiator, but information technology'south arresting heat that could be warming your dwelling. Past moving it away from the radiator, hot air can broadcast freely. The aforementioned goes for your curtains or drying dress – go along them away from the radiator and so that you lot can get the most out of your heat source.

Keeping cosy doesn't take to cost the globe. Shutterstock

4. Maximise your insulation

When it comes to heat, effectually 25% is lost through the roof. This can be hands reduced by installing 25cm of insulation throughout your loft. Information technology'southward also worth seeing what'due south going on in your walls, as around a tertiary of the heat in an uninsulated home is lost this style. Although it's non as cheap to install as loft insulation, crenel wall insulation could save up to £160 a year in heating bills. Information technology's also worth checking with your energy supplier to see if they have any insulation schemes running – which can sometimes mean cheap or complimentary installation.

5. Wrap upwards warm

If yous have a hot water tank, brand sure it is properly lagged – or insulated. This will keep the h2o warmer for longer, and reduce heating costs. The Energy Community reckons that insulating an uninsulated water tank could salve upwards to £150 a year – but fifty-fifty simply upgrading your tank's "old jacket" volition assistance to save coin.

6. Turn down the dial

This may seem a little counter-intuitive, but bear with me. The World Wellness Organisation previously recommended a minimum temperature of 21°C in the living room, but Public Health England revised this to 18°C in 2014. And research shows that turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating nib past up to 10%. So keep the dial at 18°C, salve coin and avert the negative impacts of a common cold home .

This will do just fine, thank you. Shutterstock

7. Block out the draughts

Even a simple solution such as a making your own sausage dog draught excluder will help keep the warmth in your home. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that DIY draught-proofing your doors, windows and cracks in the floor could salve £25 per year. You tin do this yourself for very lilliputian toll. Cocky-adhesive safe seals effectually doors and windows and door draught excluders are relatively cheap and easy to install. And so it's worth getting those doors and windows sealed before winter properly kicks in.

8. Install thermostatic radiator valves

Research at the University of Salford has shown that installing heating controls and theromostatic radiator valves results in energy savings of 40% compared to a house with no controls. These work past assuasive you to programme your heating to come up on at predefined times – so yous only use energy when you need it. New smart thermostats tin also be controlled remotely via your mobile and then yous can plough on your heating on the way home, ensuring it's nice and toasty when you go far.

nine. Upgrade your boiler

If your boiler is more than than 10 years quondam, information technology may be time to supervene upon it with a new, more efficient model. Depending on your onetime banality type and house, you could save up to £350 with a new A-rated condensing boiler – which uses less free energy to produce the same amount of heat. Plus, if it'southward new, you lot're less likely to have whatever bug going into the winter flavor.

ten. Reverberate the heat

Radiator panels are relatively cheap, easy to install, and ensure that oestrus from your radiators warms up your room and not your walls. They work past reflecting the estrus dorsum into the room.

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Source: https://theconversation.com/10-ways-to-keep-your-house-warm-and-save-money-this-winter-67285

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