As we’re all in the middle of another cold snap, how we can keep our homes warm is never far from our minds. And with high energy costs, it’s never been more important to prevent heat loss from our homes, especially for some who are having to make the choice between ‘heating or eating’. So, we’re all looking for tips on how we can prevent heat loss and keep our heating bills down.
The simple fact is that houses will always lose heat, and the colder it is outside, or the stronger the wind, the greater the amount of heat which will be lost through walls, windows, door and roofs. The Energy Savings Trust estimates that a quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Different types of houses will lose different proportions of heat, for instance if you live in a mid-terrace property you will lose little heat through party walls if your neighbours also have their heating switched on, but will still lose heat through the floor and the roof. New build properties tend to be better insulated and as such will proportionally lose less heat as building regulations in recent years have increased the amount of insulation and air tightness required. However, older buildings traditionally can have less insulation and are less energy efficient – they were built to breath.
Why prevent heat loss?
Whether you are on the mains gas grid or are an off-grid energy customer, preventing heat loss not only reduces your long-term energy costs by reducing the amount of fuel you use and lowering your energy bills, but will also make your home more snug, and importantly more healthy for its occupants. A common consequence of freezing temperatures is condensation and potential mould – as the cold weather creeps in so can condensation. No one wants a musty smell in their home, or peeling wallpaper, not to mention the health issues that can come as a result of damp and mould. According to the NHS, people with damp and mould in their homes are more likely to have respiratory problems, allergies or asthma, and damp and mould can also affect the immune system. Keeping your home warm and cosy, as well as using dehumidifiers, is one of the recommended ways to prevent and treat mould, damp and condensation.
How can you reduce heat loss at home?
Whatever type of property you live in, there are some steps you can take to prevent heat loss. Some are easy and relatively cheap options, while some are more costly and disruptive. In this blog, we’ll firstly take a look at the quickest and less expensive options.
Fix the draughts:
Draught-proofing is basically filling the gaps in a building where heat escapes and cold air enters. Draught-proofing is one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent heat loss, save energy and save money. So, rather than turning up the thermostat to warm up your home, let’s look at what you can do to draught-proof it instead.
One of the main ways that heat is lost in our homes is through air leakage around doors and windows. These draughts can come from cracks between your window frames and surrounding walls, and the Energy Savings Trust estimates that draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £60 a year. Draught-proofing strips, which can be purchased at your local DIY store, work well and are a cheap solution. Alternatively, sealant, foam or putty can be used to fill up any gaps.
Draught-proofing strips are also useful between doors and their frames, both inside the home and externally too. For draughts coming from the bottom of a door, a special brush or draught excluder can again be purchased from your local DIY or hardware store. But if you’re handy with a needle and thread, a cheaper alternative is to make your own. Fill a leg from an old pair of tights, or the arm of a jumper, with stuffing and then tie or sew up the opening. You can buy stuffing at DIY stores, but most of us will probably have plenty of options lying around at home that will do the trick. Rice, dried lentils, old newspapers, old socks or even unused cat litter all make great stuffing for your draught excluder.
Heat can also be lost through the floors in your home, particular hard wood flooring. Floor coverings and rugs can block air infiltration where draughts are coming through floorboards. For draughts from under skirting boards, flexible fillers or decorator’s caulk can be used. It’s important to use something that can tolerate movement as floorboards and skirting boards often contract or expand with everyday use.
As well as fixing draughts around your doors, fit draught excluders to your letterbox and fit a purpose-made cover that drops a metal disc over the key hole. And heavy duty curtains (even adding thermal lining) are great to keep the warmth in and stop cold air escaping, but make sure they don’t hang over radiators and stop heat warming your room too.
And don’t forget to draught proof your chimney when it’s not in use. There are two main ways you can do this, either by fitting a cap over the chimney pot (probably better done by a professional) or you can buy a chimney draught excluder which would usually be fitted inside the chimney or around the fireplace.
We’ll now move on to look at more costly solutions. While more expensive, they can also save you more money on your energy bills in the long-term, so can be great investments;
Loft insulation
Quick and easy to install, loft insulation should result in reduced energy bills and more heat being kept in your home. Your loft should be easy to insulate as long as it has no damp or condensation problems, but If your loft does have damp issues, insulation can worsen them as it will result in your loft being cooler. If this is the case, you may need to increase ventilation in the area.
Rolls of insulation can be used to lay over the floor joists – usually a pretty straightforward job. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is about 270mm and will usually be effective for at least 40 years, so will pay for itself over and over again with the savings you will make on your energy. For more information, visit the Energy Saving Trust website.
Cavity wall insulation
Your house will either have solid walls or cavity walls. It’s likely that if your house was built after the 1920s it will have cavity walls. If it was built before the 1990s, it may not have any wall insulation at all. If you are not sure, contact a professional who will be able to advise you. With about a third of all heat loss escaping through walls, by properly insulating cavity walls you will save energy and cut your heating costs.
Cavity wall insulation is where an insulation material is injected into the cavity from the outside through holes that will need to be drilled in the outside walls. These will be filled back up once the insulation is in. The cost of cavity wall insulation will depend on the size of your property, and whilst a relatively big investment, the Energy Savings Trust estimate that energy savings on a detached house could be as much as £690 in a 12 month period.
So, whilst there are some costly things you can do to prevent heat loss, the biggest areas for heat loss in most homes are through windows, doors and walls. We hope that this blog will help you to make some changes that will make a real difference, both to your pocket and in keeping your home warm this winter.
Looking for domestic Heating Oil or LPG? Take a look at where we deliver or get a quote today! Or read more expert advice from Northern Energy in the recommended blogs below.
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