If you’ve been outside recently, then you’ll be all too aware that it’s shaping up to be a pretty cold winter this year, especially during January and February, when there’s an increased risk of ice and snow.
Since we can’t control the weather, the best approach is to embrace it and make our homes as cozy, comfortable, and warm as possible. Alas, that usually means having to deal with pretty high energy bills. While it’s expected that energy prices will fall in January, they’re not anticipated to fall by much — around £22 per year, or a pretty paltry £1.80 per month.
So some comfort-boosting, energy-slashing tips are still highly welcome. With that in mind, we’ve put together a few of the most effective ways to enjoy a cosy home this winter without continually panicking about how much it’ll cost you in energy bills.
Have Your Boiler Serviced
Your boiler is usually the star of the house during the winter months, but there’s also a chance that it’s secretly the villain. Boilers that don’t work as well as they should can result in higher energy usage for poorer results — in other words, it’s the worst of both worlds. It’s recommended to have your boiler serviced by a professional before you put it through its paces in the winter months. Not only will this ensure that it can work at its best, but it’ll also reduce the risk of experiencing a catastrophic breakdown when you need it the most, such as a freezing January morning.
Upgrade Your Insulation
We’ve established that your boiler is (hopefully) the star of the show during the winter months. The unsung hero? That title belongs to your home’s insulation, which ensures that the hot air pumped around your home stays on the right side of the walls (the inside). If you suspect your home’s insulation isn’t working as well as it should or hasn’t been upgraded in a long time, then now could be the time. Modern insulation, like the type installed by Carbon Zero Solutions (The Insulation Guys), can reduce energy bills by up to 40%. That means you can keep your home cosy and warm while also saving significant cash, which you can then put into your travel fund for a winter sun getaway.
Seal Windows and Doors
Having the right insulation in your property will go a long way towards reducing your energy bills. You can take things even further by sealing your home’s windows and doors, which can also contribute to heat loss. There are a few easy ways to insulate your doors and windows without having to hire a professional. Weatherstripping can be applied to door and window frames. A draft excluder placed at the base of your doors is another highly cost-effective way to keep more heat inside your home.
Make the Most of the Sunshine
Though it’s rarely the case, winter can be warm when the sun is shining. Alas, that’s only the case when there’s no wind to cut through the sun’s warming rays with a chill. But in your home? There’s no wind there, especially if you’ve sealed up any drafty spaces.
When the sun is shining, open the curtains. That’ll allow you to use the power of the sun to keep your home warm. Just remember that they shouldn’t be open when the sun’s power begins to fade (which happens well before sunset).
Install Thermal Curtains
And talking of curtains: installing thermal curtains and blinds can make a real difference to how warm you feel at home. They’re essentially the same as regular curtains (and come in a wide range of styles, so you can get ones that match your home’s decor), but are extremely good at insulating the area around the windows. Install them in your high-use rooms (bedroom, living room), and you’ll notice a difference.
Get in the Kitchen
The kitchen can be a godsend during the winter months. Not only does it allow you to whip up warming recipes that’ll keep the internal engine fully stocked up on what it needs to produce internal heat, but it can also heat up your home.
After you’ve finished using the oven, leave the door open. It takes a while to cool down, and while it is, the hot air will radiate around your home. We should clarify, however, that you shouldn’t turn on your oven purely as a way to heat up your property — that would be a fire risk that ends up increasing your energy bills. Only use this method when there’s a genuine need.
In any case, spending time in the kitchen can warm you three times: once when you’re cooking, once when you eat, and once when you enjoy the lingering kitchen warmth.
Load Up On Blankets
You’ll be spending a lot of time at home during the winter months, and you’ll enjoy it a lot more if you’re warm and not overly concerned about how much your energy bills will be. Investing in some warming blankets and throws is a great way to stay cosy on those milder days when your heating system can be turned down low or off. It’ll make spending an evening on the couch all the more inviting.
Give Your Radiator Space To Work Its Magic
It costs money to turn your radiators on, so it’s important to ensure that, when they are on, they’re able to deliver their best results. All too often, you’ll find radiators stuck behind bulky furniture or with towels draped over the top. What that means in practice is that the back of the furniture or towel will be extremely warm, and the air around the radiator will be mildly warm at best. Your radiator should be given space to protect the heat it produces, so make sure it has a clear space.
If you have a reversible ceiling fan, you can also set it to on during the winter months. That’ll push the heat produced by the radiator that moves upwards back down again.
