IF the thought of turning your central heating on sends shivers down your spine, fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s nothing worse than being cold, right? Well, luckily for you, property experts from B&Q have shared their essential guide to keeping your home warm this Winter.
So if you’re looking to cut heating costs and relax in a room that’s cosy and warm this season, then you’ll need to take notes.
According to the property pros, there’s a cheap buy that will reflect heat from your radiator around your room, as well as why lining your loft is key.
Not only this, but they also explained how your rugs and curtains could be the secret to a warm home, so you’ll have to listen up if you’re on a mission to battle the cold.
According to the experts, your radiators are the first defence in the battle against the cold.
But it turns out that when they’re not working effectively, it’ll take longer to heat your home, and won’t emit enough warmth for those toasty evenings in.
As a result, if you notice your radiator has cold patches, doesn’t heat up evenly or makes loud gurgling noises, it’s time to bleed it.
The experts explained: “Bleeding your radiator is a quick and easy way to get them working their best again.
“Simply use a radiator key or a flat-headed screwdriver to loosen the bleed valve, which you’ll find on the top left or right of the radiator.”
Not only this, but it just so happens that you could be losing heat from right under your feet.
Whilst floorboards are a gorgeous feature, they aren’t the best for retaining warmth, especially if they’re old or have gaps in between.
Stone, vinyl, or laminate flooring can really feel the chill when Winter arrives, so the experts advised: “Take the edge off those chilly toes with a rug.
“Not only will it reduce cold air creeping in, it’ll add a cosy feel to your room.”
In addition to using a rug to keep your home warm, your curtains could also be the answer to your problems.
Cold air and draughts can come in around window panes, so if your curtains are past their best or unlined, investing in a new pair is a great way to block the cold air from coming into your room.
The pros shared: “Remember, the heavier the curtain, the better its insulating effect. In general, lined curtains offer greater insulation than non-lined curtains.”
Not only this, but the B&Q experts also revealed their top curtain hack: “If you want to keep your home extra warm, leave your curtains closed when you’re out, and shut them before it gets dark.
“Keep the curtains open during the day to let the sun warm the room – it’s free too!”
Whilst keeping your curtains open is a great free trick, the experts also highlighted how getting smart with your heating will ensure you have a cosy Winter this year.
They advised: “Turn down the heat if you know you’ll be out longer than planned. With a smart thermostat you’ve got complete control wherever you are.”
According to the experts, the Google Nest Learning thermostat can learn your schedule and programme itself by noticing when you’re gone.
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
Not only this, but it can automatically turn down the heat, making it a really efficient way to manage your heating.
If you’ve got a loft, making sure it’s properly insulated is key.
If your loft isn’t effectively insulated, you could be losing a lot of heat from the top of your home.
You can either use rolls of loft insulation or insulated loft boards, both of which are designed to minimise the amount of warm air escaping from your loft.
And if you haven’t got a draught excluder already, then you’ll need to nip down the high-street as soon as possible.
Heat escapes through cracks and gaps around your home, but using draught excluders around doors will prevent this happening, and will stop cold air getting in.
The experts claimed that brush style draught excluders are effective in most cases, but if you have wooden or tiled floors, an under-door excluder could work better.
Finally, if you’re using your radiator, it’s important that you’ve got some reflective foil.
According to the experts, reflective foil, which you can buy in a roll, can “keep your room cosy and reduce your heating costs by reflecting heat back into the room that would otherwise be lost through the wall.”
It is particularly effective for radiators on cold outside walls and whilst you can nab the stuff from £8 from B&Q, if you’re on a budget and are looking to save as much cash as possible, you’ll find the stuff for even less, for just £7.51 from Screwfix.
