6 Little Known, Easy Ways to Better Insulate Your Home
The sun may be shining and the heating turned off, but now is the time to consider ways to better insulate your home. Climate change is causing extremes of weather conditions and although the planet is heating, it also means we can get freezing weather. And when that happens, sometimes we feel powerless to heat our homes to a pleasant temperature. Plus, of course, the more we can insulate our homes the more we can reduce those ever-increasing fuel bills. So, now is the time to consider these small tricks to insulate your home as efficiently as possible to keep it warmer and reduce fuel costs, whatever method of heating you use.
Insulate Front Doors
The first thing to consider is adding what is known as a weatherstrip right around the opening of your door. These are made of a pliable material that can normally be cut to size and fixed with a self-adhesive strip. This option is super easy to install and extremely cost-effective.
If the door opens into a cold hallway or directly outside, a curtain made of heavy, thick material can be installed to pull right across the front door, which will alleviate the sudden rush of a large amount of cold air and drafts.
Insulate Windows
Windows are very important elements for any space. They allow light and fresh air to reach the interior of the buildings in which we live and work and protect us from the cold and other weather conditions and troubles.
There are a few simple steps you can take yourself, with minimal investment, to provide a more comfortable space to live and work and reduce energy bills. One of the best solutions is to install shutters. They significantly affect the retention of heat in the house but also the freshness in the summer. One good thing is that, as the folks at Shuttercraft Ltd state, you can be sure that there is a range of shutters that will suit your windows, no matter the shape or size of them. Also, to prevent airflow between the window frame and the sash, you can stick a special tape on one or the other element that will allow the elements to fit better on each other and reduce the space between them while reducing flow.
Take Care of Blinds and Curtains
At night, lower the blinds and draw the curtains to reduce heat loss. Blinds can reduce heat loss by up to 10 percent.
If the sun appears during the winter period, open the curtains on the windows so that its rays can get inside and heat the glass on the windows, which will also increase the temperature in the apartment. Ventilate the rooms regularly, but not for longer than 10 minutes.
Rearrange the Furniture
This winter makeover at home is completely free and temporary. Move furniture away from cold exterior walls and place it near heat sources, such as fireplaces. Also, move the furniture away from the radiator as much as possible so as not to block the flow of warm air.
Radiators must not be obscured by curtains and furniture. And try to avoid drying the washing on the radiator as a covered and shielded radiator has limited effect.
Radiator-related, there is also an option of placing aluminium foil behind the radiator to retain heat and reflect it back into the room, instead of allowing it to escape through the walls. You can use classic kitchen aluminium foil if it is of good quality, or buy a special foil that is intended for just that. Whatever you decide on, the only thing that matters is that you will not be cold and that you will solve a large number of problems that way.
Prevent Hot Air From Entering the Chimney
When the fireplace is not used, warm indoor air goes through the chimney. Even when the chimney is closed, a certain amount of warm air manages to get out through it.
The simple solution is to block the airflow with a chimney balloon. Choose a balloon size that matches the size of the chimney. If you light the fireplace and forget to take out the balloon, it will blow out automatically, so the house will not fill with smoke.
Consider a Portable Heater
Consider placing a portable heater in the room where your family gathers most often, such as the living room, and reduce the overall temperature of your central heating.The rest of the house will be a little colder, but it will be warm enough for you if you dress in layers and wear socks and slippers.
Do not overheat the space. The optimal temperature in heated rooms is 20 degrees Celsius.
We believe that these tricks to help you better insulate your home will help you increase and preserve heat and enjoy the coziness of your home while also keeping costs down as much as possible.