Simple Tips for Keeping out the Cold This Winter
Friday, February 05, 2016
It’s no fun
at all when the wind is howling outside, the rain is driving, or you are
shivering in sub-zero temperatures. Hopefully your home is warm and cozy, but
if like many people you have to live with drafts and chills, here are a few
simple tips to help you keep the cold out this winter – without spending a
fortune.
Block Drafts
Drafts are
the main reason why a home feels cold, even if there is some form of heating in
place. Cold air will always find a way in through cracks and crevices, so the
best way to keep the cold out is to seal up any drafts. This can be done in a
number of ways.
·
Heavy
drapes are good for blocking drafts from old windows. Pull them shut at night
and keep the heat in and the cold out.
·
Draft
excluders are great for doors with gaps at the bottom. You can buy a draft
excluder, or make your own from an old pair of nylons stuffed
with bits of fabric or cushion filler.
·
Badly
fitted doors can be draft-proofed with special strips available from all good
DIY stores.
·
Draft
sealant is useful if you have numerous cracks and crevices around doors and
windows. Flexible sealant will work in small cracks – keeping the damp and
drafts out nicely. Most flexible sealants can be painted over once the sealant
has dried out completely, so it won’t stand out.
·
Use
thick rugs to block drafts from wooden floors.
Get Your Boiler Serviced
A common
reason why homes are far colder than they should be over winter is because the
boiler isn’t working as it should be. It is advisable to have a central heating boilerserviced at
least once a year to prevent faults and general wear and tear from affecting
its performance. An annual service will also ensure your boiler is not
dangerous in any way.
Install a Log Burner
Nothing
beats the heat from an open fire. The trouble is, open fires are extremely
inefficient whe
it comes to heating a room. They look lovely, but the majority
of the heat disappears up the chimney, which is great for the birds, but not so
great for you.
A log
burner is a better solution. You can burn kiln dried firewood, sourced from a local supplier, or chop up old logs and burn those
all winter. Alternatively, upgrade to a multi-fuel stove and burn anthracite
for a greater heat output. Stoves are not too expensive to buy and as long as
you have a fully functioning chimney, they are easy to install.
Anyone with
deeper pockets can easily make their home warmer in the winter by beefing up
energy efficiency measures. Installing double glazing, increasing the level of
insulation in the attic and other such strategies are all effective, albeit
expensive. Another way to keep warm in the winter is to wear more clothes, so
next time your kids complain that the house is cold, tell them to move around
more or throw on an extra jersey.
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