We may be heading towards the tail end of winter, but for many of us the weather is still chilly – especially in the early mornings and late evenings. Therefore, until spring has well and truly sprung, it’s important to keep our homes cozy and warm. Of course one way is to simply turn up the heating, but that’s going to result in higher energy bills and a higher carbon footprint. Luckily, there are alternative ways to keep the heat in during the cold months that don’t break the bank or damage the environment. Here are some top tips.
Deal with draughts
The first action to take is to find out if your house is leaking heat to the outside, and if so from where. Common places this happens are around doors and windows, through chimneys and lofts, and even between the floorboards. In many cases there are easy steps you can take to fix the problem. This includes for example installing keyhole covers or placing draught excluders to cover gaps at the bottom of doors, or using draught proofing strips around window frames. Filling in any cracks in the walls can also make a big difference here.
Upgrade your windows
Sometimes just using draught proofing strips is not enough to prevent heat from being lost through the windows, especially if they are old or single glazed. If that’s the case then it might be time to invest in high-quality new windows. Although this can cost more up front, you’ll be making savings on your energy bills in the long term. These days there are lots of different styles of windows available to suit every property and budget, so search for an expert on windows wolverhampton, or wherever you live, and get some advice on what’s best for you.
Be aware of how you arrange your furniture
It might be surprising, but the way that you arrange the furniture in a room can affect how efficiently it heats up and retains its warmth. For example, it’s best to avoid putting big items such as sofas in front of the radiators as this can prevent the warm air they produce from circulating through the room, and the heat will be absorbed into the furniture instead. On the flip side, having floating shelves installed on the wall above the radiator can be a good way to deflect heat into the room rather than have it rise to the ceiling.
Choose appropriate furnishings
Once all your furniture is appropriately arranged, you can move on to the furnishings. Simple additions such as a blanket for the sofa and a rug for a hardwood floor can go a long way towards making a space feel more cosy, as can having candles or fairy lights for atmosphere.
Hanging thick curtains or ones with added lining can also be very helpful at retaining warmth – keep them open when it’s sunny to let the natural light and heat in, then close them after dark to ensure all that warmth stays in.