How To Weatherize Your Home For Winter
Every year, fuel price rises make the headlines – and this year has been no exception. If you were surprised by how much your Winter heating bill is, and still yet how cold your North London home feels, keep reading because Entire Houze will offer some great ways to weatherize your home this Winter.
Door Sweeps 1/8-inch gaps around the front and back doors let in as much air into the home as a small window open halfway. To fix this issue, we recommend attaching door sweeps on exterior doors. It is one of the most affordable ways to weatherize your home, installation only takes a few minutes, and it effectively seals drafts.
Close all your curtains (and line them too) If you live in a house that doesn’t have double-glazed windows you can still keep the heat inside by closing your curtains, blinds or shutters when the sun goes down.
If you have curtains, the thicker they are, the better. If you can manage a needle and thread you could even line your curtains with a cheap, thick material during the winter to make them more effective. But keep your curtains, blinds or shutters open during the day, as the sun shining through your windows will help keep the room warm.
Keep your radiators on By setting your heating on low during the day, either manually or on a timer, your house will stay warm enough to prevent frozen pipes becoming an issue. An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening will be enough. This is especially important if you are planning to go away during the winter months. It is important to check whether your radiators need bleeding. If they are cold at the top and warm at the bottom, this is a clear sign.
Seal gaps around doors frames and windows Cracks and gaps around doors and windows can also leak heat, so seal these up too using inexpensive insulating strips. To seal gaps and cracks around the non-moving parts of the window, use caulk and/or expanding foam sealants. Look out for uncovered keyholes, letterboxes and cat flaps, which can also let in cold draughts, and keep these covered too.
But don’t cover air vents, as you may be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if they become blocked.
Turn off the heating in rooms you don’t use Don’t waste energy heating rooms you’re not using. Where possible, turn off the radiators in rooms that aren’t in use. But make sure you keep the doors shut too, so that the heat from the rooms you’re using doesn’t escape.
Insulate hot water tanks and pipes Keep your water hot by insulating your hot water tank and pipes. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a British Standard hot water tank jacket costs around £15 but could save you up to £35 a year in energy costs by keeping your water hot for longer.
Primary pipe insulation – which consists of foam tubes covering the pipes between your hot water cylinder and boiler – will cost, on average, £20. But the Energy Saving Trust claims it should save you around £10 a year.
Loft insulation Loft insulation will make your house will stay warm during the winter and cool during the summer. This adds value to your property by making your home more energy efficient and helps to reduce noise travelling in.
Frozen pipes Lagging your pipes is easy and very effective. Lagging can be bought online or from most DIY stores. British Gas says that wrapping your pipes will help stop them from freezing, avoids blockages and prevents burst pipes. Key problem areas which will see the greatest use from lagging include the garage and any areas where pipes run outside. If your pipes are frozen, apply heat to melt the blockage, a hairdryer will do the job!
With these easy tips, you can be sure your home has been winter-proofed and is ready for the cold weather, so you can sit back and relax! Should you need our help Entire Houze has over 20 years of highly experienced professional builders in all areas of renovation and the construction industry in the North London area.