As the temperature drops, keeping a large family home warm can be a daunting task. Juggling your priorities can often mean hunting for more blankets and jumpers to anything other than turning on the dreaded heating!
Well, fear not! In this article, we’ll look at some practical and easy-to-implement tips that not only keep the frost at bay but can also help you save money. Checking some fundamental parts of your home and changing small things here and there, can help you keep things cosy without breaking out the piggy bank.
While we will be touching on some quick tips, we have included longer-term strategies that are worth considering – especially if you have a large home or many family members to keep warm. But remember, every home is unique and some of these ideas may not be suitable for you right now (extra jumpers are just as good!)
Assess Your Current Boiler
Boilers tend to be the last thing on our minds – until they go wrong. It’s thought that a large majority of homes in the UK are currently running boilers that are over 10-15 years old, meaning they will be outdated and inefficient (and prone to breakdowns).
Checking the health of your boiler is particularly important if you own a larger home, as there could be efficiency issues leading to higher energy bills, and poor boiler performance.
It’s recommended that you have your boiler services annually, particularly if it is approaching old age! An engineer can check the system is running well and ensure you have the right boiler installed. For example, the best boiler for a 4 bedroom house in the UK would be a System boiler, with a hot water cylinder, as this can provide adequate supplies of hot water to multiple bathrooms at once. It will also be powerful enough for a high number of radiators.
Getting the heating system right in your home is the very best step you can take to ensure your whole family has the warmth and hot water they need. Investing in a new boiler can be a big commitment, but by upgrading an old system you can save money through greater efficiency – and you can avoid unnecessary expenses from breakdown callouts and repairs.
Optimise Your Thermostat
If you’re happy with your current boiler, there are still ways you can increase its performance to work better for you. Most of us tend to switch our heating on and off as and when we need it or pay no attention to our radiator valves – but here is where you can save energy!
Keeping a close eye on your thermostat, or programming it to fit your daily routine, is a great way to avoid your boiler firing up when it’s not needed. Investing in a programmable or smart thermostat can make this much easier. You can control your heating remotely and turn it off if you’re out and have forgotten.
You can also set ‘zones’ in your home so that only certain areas are heated. A similar thing may also be achieved by using special radiator valves (known as Thermostatic Radiator Valves or TRVs). These allow you to set a temperature for each radiator in your home, this will mean no room will be heated that you don’t use – or you could increase the temperature for a child’s room only, for example.
Choosing to implement new devices like these can mean an upfront investment, but if you’re able to do so, it can result in longer-lasting savings in the future and greater control over your energy use.
Seal Drafts and Gaps
As a slightly smaller, cheaper bit of advice – but nonetheless just as important! Be sure to search around your home for any drafts. These can be particularly nasty around external doors and windows.
It may be surprising just how much cold air can seep into your home through tiny gaps and cracks. By checking your home you can identify and block these routes that let all your precious heat escape.
You don’t need any particularly expensive equipment to solve this problem either! Although you can purchase weather strips and foam specifically to cover these areas, cotton wool or leftover polystyrene from packaging can work just as well with some added tape.
Utilise Heavy Curtains and Blinds
Just as windows can let heat out through their surroundings, they can also let heat escape through them as well. This is lessened somewhat if you have double or triple glazing, but for those with single panes, the cold can be significant.
The best way to tackle this issue is to hang heavy, double-lined curtains (or just two pairs together!) or install a thermal blind. This can help keep cold out and reflect warmth into the room.
You can also buy insulating window film, which can be stuck directly onto the glass to add an extra layer of protection from the cold. Closing your curtains or blinds over will provide an additional layer of insulation and help to keep things toasty. During the day though, throw open those curtains to let sunlight in and naturally warm your home.
Use Rugs and Carpets (& check your insulation)
Hardwood or tile floors can also contribute to heat loss in large homes, as our floors and ceilings can also let heat escape. To keep the warmth in, place rugs or carpets in key living spaces. Not only do they add a cosy touch, but they also act as insulators, preventing cold air from seeping through the floor.
As an aside to this point – it’s worth checking if your home is properly insulated. Loft and cavity wall insulation is the absolute best way to keep a home warm. It can also drastically reduce your energy spend, as your boiler won’t be working so hard to maintain temperatures. If in doubt, check with a local installer to see if you could benefit from insulation (they can also advise if there are any current Government schemes to help with the cost).
Quick Tips
Here are some additional quick tips to try:
- Place foil insulation behind your radiators to reflect heat into the room.
- Add insulation to hot water pipes to keep water hotter for longer (ask a professional if in doubt.
- Bleed your radiators to ensure they continue working efficiently – this will release any trapped air in your heating system.
- Move large furniture away from radiators so as not to block the heat.
- After cooking, leave the oven door open (only if it’s safe to do so!) and let the heat transfer to your home.
There are many ways to improve the warmth in your home, whether you have a large space or a small space, these tips should help you create a toasty environment for the whole family.
It can seem daunting to keep up with energy prices and stay warm, but every small measure can have a big impact. Whether you choose jumpers and fluffy socks, or heavy curtains and cosy rugs, keeping your family safe and happy is all that counts, whatever the weather.