The weather is getting colder it’s about that time of year we start cranking up the heating and putting our costumes together. But, before you do check to see where you may be loosing heat in your home and where it’s escaping from!

Stop Draughts

Draughts are a massive cause of wasted energy and something that, when prevented, can quickly help save money. Check that your windows and doors seal properly, you can buy some adhesive foam strips or tape to fill areas where you can feel cold air passing into the home.

If your floor isn’t insulated it can account for up to 10% of your home’s heat loss, whilst it’s fashionable to have wooden floors, you can get cold draughts from under the floor, especially in older properties. There are a few ways to insulate underfloor, even sometimes using a robot to spray insulation underneath, but carpets and rugs work well too. There’s a reason that people hundreds of years ago used rugs, thick curtains, and even tapestries on the walls – it’s not just decorative, they provide insulation and stop draughts in the home.

Reduce your hot water usage

There are a few things we can do when it comes to reducing our hot water usage like taking quick showers and having fewer baths. But don’t forget that when you are washing up, use a bowl or plug and use that water instead of washing every item under a constant stream of hot water, as it’s just heated water you’ve paid for going down the drain! Use cold water to rinse off cleaned dishes, cutlery and glasses, as this doesn’t require hot water after it’s been cleaned. Also avoid overfilling the kettle and boiling more water than you need as this will increase your energy usage, costing you more money.

Enhance and protect your insulation

Loft insulation retains the warmth of your home’s heating by trapping it in the fluffy material as it rises, acting as a woolly hat for your home. Having no loft insulation can mean that around 25% of the heat produced is lost through your roof. The same can be said for insulation compressed or damaged underneath the weight of standard loft boards. Squashed insulation cannot work effectively, the UK government recommend a minimum depth of at least 270mm. Investing in a raised loft boarding system like the LoftZone StoreFloor that we install, designed specifically to allow for loft flooring for storage while still allowing the full depth of insulation.

You may need new or replacement insulation to help reduce the heat lost in the home, you can contact us to arrange a free survey. Aside from loft insulation, many more insulation measures work but can cost much more, including wall insulation, modern draughtproof doors, double glazing and underfloor insulation.

Individually controlled radiators

Most homes in the UK have one single thermostat controlling the temperature of your radiators. Some rooms in your home need less heat than others, so make sure each one has a thermostatic radiator valve to turn the temperature down or up on individual radiators. TRVs can be fitted without any plumbing, they simply screw on.

Manual TRVs are around £10-15 each, whilst electric ones are about double the price. No matter which TRV you decide to use, they will help save energy by allowing you be smart about where to prioritise your heat. If you don’t spend a lot of time in your garage, it’s also worth checking to see if it’s being heated to avoid wasted energy.

A little treat for our customers

There are so many small, inexpensive changes that we can all make to instantly see the savings you can benefit from in your home. Get in touch with our team to discuss these tips in more detail or to see how we can help you reduce your energy usage with our loft solutions. As our treat to you this year we will be offering customers a 10% discount for any installation booked in the entire month of November 2023! Happy trick or treating!