I’m a Real Estate Professional: Seven Ways to Keep Your Home Warm and Save on Costs This Winter
If the thought of turning on your central heating gives you the shivers, don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s nothing worse than being cold, right? Lucky for you, the property experts at B&Q have shared their essential guide to keeping your home warm this winter.
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So if you want to save on heating costs and relax in a room that is cozy and warm this season, then you should take notes.
According to the real estate pros, there’s a cheap purchase that will reflect the heat from your radiator throughout your room, and why cladding your attic is crucial.
Not only this, but they also explained how your rugs and curtains can be the secret to a warm home, so you’ll have to listen if you’re on a mission to combat the cold.
Radiator ready
According to the experts, your radiators are the first defense in the fight against the cold.
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But it turns out that if they don’t work effectively, it takes longer to heat your home and doesn’t provide enough heat for those warm evenings at home.
If you notice that your radiator has cold spots, isn’t heating evenly, or is making loud gurgling noises, it’s time to bleed it.
The experts explained: “Bleeding your radiator is a quick and easy way to get it working optimally again.
“Simply use a radiator wrench or flat-head screwdriver to loosen the bleed valve, which can be found at the top left or right of the radiator.”
Carpet-tastic
Not only this, but you may also lose heat under your feet.
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While floorboards are beautiful, they are not the best at retaining heat, especially if they are old or have gaps between them.
Stone, vinyl or laminate floors can really feel the chill when winter arrives, so the experts advised: “Take the edge off those cold toes with a rug.
“Not only does it reduce the ingress of cold air, it also gives your room a cozy atmosphere.”
Curtain cozy
Besides using a rug to keep your home warm, your curtains can also be the solution to your problems.
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Cold air and drafts can come in through the windows, so if your curtains are no longer working properly or are unlined, investing in a new pair is a good way to prevent cold air from entering your room.
The professionals shared: “Remember: the heavier the curtain, the better its insulating effect. In general, lined curtains provide better insulation than unlined 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 away, and close them before it gets dark.
“Keep the curtains open during the day so the sun can warm the room – it’s free too!”
Choose smart heating
While keeping your curtains open is a great free trick, the experts also highlighted how being smart with your heating will ensure you have a cozy winter this year.
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They advised: “Turn down the heating if you know you will be away longer than planned. With a smart thermostat you have complete control, wherever you are.”
According to the experts, the Google Nest Learning thermostat can learn your schedule and program itself by noticing when you’re away.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Real estate expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the cold from outside to enter your home, this is due to small openings that can let air in, so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth because it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another part of your home where heat can be lost and make your home feel cold,” he continued. “On cold days you may notice that your floor is not pleasant to walk on because your feet are freezing.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have carpet. This will provide a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, attic space, crawl spaces and under floorboards.
“Loose insulation is great for this, and it is a more affordable form of insulation, with a large bag being picked up for around £30,” explains Joshua.
4. Keep your interior doors closed
“Household members often congregate in one room in the evening, which is usually the kitchen or living room,” says Joshua.
“This means you only need to heat a small part 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 mailboxes as these can let in cold air if they are not properly secured.
Not only this, but it can also automatically turn down the heating, making it a very efficient way to manage your heating.
Attic lining
If you have an attic, it is crucial that it is properly insulated.
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If your attic is not properly insulated, you may be losing a lot of heat from the top of your home.
You can use rolls of attic insulation or insulated attic planks, both of which are designed to minimize the amount of warm air escaping from your attic.
Tours disappear
And if you don’t have a draft strip yet, you need to hit the shopping street as soon as possible.
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Heat escapes through cracks and crevices in your home, but using draft excluders around doors prevents this from happening and keeps cold air from entering.
The experts claimed that brush-style weather stripping is effective in most cases, but if you have wood or tiled floors, an under-door weather strip might work better.
Reflective heat
Finally, when you use your radiator, it is important that you have reflective film.
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According to the experts, reflective film, which you can buy in rolls, can “keep your room cozy and reduce your heating costs by reflecting heat back into the room that would otherwise be lost through the wall.”
It’s especially effective for radiators on cold external walls and although you can get the stuff from £8 at B&Q, you’ll find the stuff for even less if you’re on a budget and want to save as much money as possible. , for only €7.51 at Screwfix.
