Easy Tips For Insulating Your Home Against Cold Winter Weather
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As winter gets into full swing, the relatively warm temperatures of the late summer and early autumn are quickly replaced with freezing weather. No matter how cold it gets outside, however, you can keep the inside of your home warm and comfortable by using a few simple tips.
Insulating your home against cold weather can improve its energy efficiency while at the same time reducing drafts and making it easier to hold in the heat. Here are some tips to get you started:
Radiate Heat Back Into Your Rooms
Using tinfoil, you can radiate heat back into your rooms, helping to create a warmer space. All that you have to do is cover a piece of cardboard with tinfoil. Then, place the foil-covered cardboard behind your radiator next to the wall. The foil will help reflect the heat off of the wall so that it goes back into the room. This can not only make it easier to heat up your space but can also help your home retain heat. You can also find pre-made foil insulation at most home improvement stores.
Insulate Your Pipes
Cold weather doesn’t just affect the temperature inside your house – it also affects your plumbing pipes. Pipes that are exposed to cold weather can lose heat, making it much more difficult to heat up water for your home. The next time you are at a home improvement store, pick up some pipe insulation. These foam tubes have a slit down one side, making it easy to pop them over your pipes.
Reduce Drafts
Any holes or openings in the exterior of your home can create a drafty space that is hard to heat. You can solve this problem by sealing up holes or cracks around your windows and doors. Depending on the type of opening you are dealing with, you can use caulk, insulating tape, or expanding spray foam.
Improve The Efficiency Of Your Radiator
When your radiator is on, touch the top to make sure that it is warm. If the heat only travels part way up the radiator, it means that your radiator is not working as efficiently as it could be. Fortunately, there is a simple fix. All that you have to do is bleed the radiator. You can pick up a radiator bleed key at just about any home improvement store. Then, all that you have to do is use this key to open the valve at the top of your radiator. This will release air. The minute that you see a small bit of water appear, close the key. This will allow the heat to reach the top of the radiator, providing more efficient heating. According to Simply Switch this can help make your home a lot more efficient.
Service Your Boiler
Consider scheduling a service visit for your boiler once a year. Just make sure that the person you hire to perform the work is a Gas Safe Registered Engineer.
Keep Your Curtains Shut
One simple way to prevent heat from escaping is by closing your curtains. Curtains provide an extra layer of insulation against heat loss. Try shutting them when it gets dark outside. Alternatively, if you are going to be away from home, you can also close them to keep your house warm while you are away. You may even want to look for thermal curtains that do a better job of insulating.
Don’t Waste The Heat Generated By Cooking a Meal
Using your oven for cooking can not only help you create delicious meals – it can also help you heat your home. After you take the food out of the oven, leave the oven door cracked. This will allow the heat from the oven to seep out into your home, keeping the space nice and warm. Just remember to keep young children from approaching the oven while the door is open.
Use Area Rugs To Keep Your Floors Warm
Hardwood floors are more popular than ever. Unfortunately, they also can be a point of heat loss in your home. One way to keep heat from escaping through your floors is by using area rugs to help insulate them.
Think Outside The Box
Don’t be afraid to get a little bit creative when insulating your home. For instance, if you have a large gap under one of your doors, you may be able to seal it by putting a piece of pipe insulation across the bottom of your door. You should also check in areas like your cabinets to make sure that there are no openings to the outside. If you find any cracks, seal them up using spray foam insulation. If you really want to get great results, you may also want to consider having your home professionally inspected to catch any areas of heat loss that you may have missed.
Set Your Thermostat To The Right Temperature
When it gets cold outside, the natural inclination for most people is to turn up the thermostat. Ideally, however, you should try to keep your thermostat set anywhere between about 18° C and 21° C. Consider investing in a programmable thermostat that you can use to raise or lower the heat according to your personal schedule. That way, you won’t wind up wasting heat during periods of time when you are away from home.
