As the Energy Saving Trust explains, these are the critical steps that can make homes cosier and help families save on expensive energy payments. By focusing on draught-proofing and energy efficiency, homeowners can save money and maintain a warm environment during the chilly season.
Draught-proofing is one of the most important preparations you can make. Find and insulate the drafts where icy air creeps in and heated air escapes. It’s amazing how this simple step can bring down your heating bills by hundreds of dollars! For homeowners, pay attention to rattles, whistling sounds or moving air. Look for gaps around doors, windows, floorboards, and other places that may let in cold air. The Energy Saving Trust has advice on the best draught-proofing methods.
Effective Draught-Proofing Techniques
Perhaps the easiest fix is to put brush draught excluders along the bottom of outside doors. These thermal barriers, acting as insulators, prevent cold air from infiltrating sensitive living spaces. Homeowners can inexpensively and conveniently repair gaps in their floorboards with a silicone-based filler. This quick and dirty upgrade goes a long way to reducing heat loss even more.
The potential savings from draught-proofing are substantial. And draught-proofing is an easy win. According to the Energy Saving Trust, it can save up to £85 a year when done properly. These types of improvements support quality of life and comfort and are a significant way U.S. homes are becoming more energy efficient.
To protect homes even more, homeowners should install a terracotta cap atop the fundamental chimney. This £150 investment helps to prevent moisture and bird nesting from entering the system, creating issues with heating systems. Inside the chimney, a draught excluder can be installed to prevent warm air from escaping upward while blocking cold air from entering.
Optimizing Heating Systems
Along with draught-proofing, the first thing homeowners should do is get the most out of the heating systems they have. Routine maintenance is key. Boilers should be serviced at least once per year to keep them working at peak efficiency. Legacy heating controls—heating controls over 14 years old—need to be replaced with smarter, energy-efficient alternatives that provide higher performance and more precise control.
Homeowners need to inspect all electric heaters, including space heaters, for worn or frayed wires to ensure they will operate safely during the winter months. Additionally, bleeding radiators is an important practice to ensure proper heating circulation throughout the home. In fact, you just need a radiator key to get this job done. They usually cost no more than 50p and no more than £3 at any DIY stores.
Plus, installing radiator reflectors is another tactic that helps radiators retain the heat they produce. For example, three B&Q panels cost as little as £23.90, offering a cost-effective way of amplifying heating efficiency.
Setting Thermostats for Savings
Smart thermostat usage is essential to saving energy too. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the best thing you can do is keep your thermostat at the lowest comfortable level, usually around 18-21 degrees Celsius. Saving money and energy is as simple as adjusting the thermostat one degree Celsius. This small change could reduce yearly heating costs by as much as £60!
As winter approaches, the competitive energy market provides a perfect opportunity for families to check the energy prices they’re on. Will Owen, an energy expert from Uswitch, notes that “this is a particularly strong time for savings, with about 26 fixed deals currently available which beat the October cap, and savings of about £241 available on the market.” We want residents and homeowners to take the fullest advantage of these choices to make sure they save the most on their energy costs.