Did you know you should make sure your ceiling fan is rotating clockwise this winter season? Find out why, plus many more simple handy tips, to keep your home cosy while it’s freezing outside.
1 CLOSE UNUSED ROOMS
If you have extra rooms in your house that are not being used, shut them off. Closed doors keep cold air from circulating into the rest of the house.
2 DIY TIN FOIL TRICK
To avoid heat loss from radiators that are attached to external walls, use aluminium foil behind the radiator. According to Sophie Neuberg, campaigner for the charity “Friends of the Earth,” the tin foil stops heat from escaping through the wall by reflecting it back into the room. The foil available in your kitchen works perfectly for this trick, or use the insulating aluminium foil tape
3 INVEST IN CHIMNEY BALLOONS
A considerable amount of heat is lost through open chimneys. You can prevent cold air from entering your house by investing in chimney balloons, according to interior designer Claire Potter. The balloon, which is placed inside the chimney hole, is inflated to prevent heat loss by stopping the incoming cold air.
4 SAY YES TO MORNING SUNLIGHT
Try capturing all the heat that’s available from the morning sunlight. On those bright sunny winter days, open the curtains in your house and let the light shine in.
5 BRING IN MORE RUGS
Apart from adding glamour to your house, rugs can prevent cold air from seeping up into the room. If your floors are not insulated, they can cause as much as 10 percent heat loss, according to the National Energy Foundation (NEF). Rugs and carpets act as great insulators and they’ll help keep your feet warm.
6 THICKER THE BETTER
To prevent heat loss through windows, use curtains with a thermal lining - or PVC shower curtains, as they are relatively cheap, says Carl Brennand, assistant manager of website Moneymagpie. Also, layers of curtains in front of doors can help keep your house warm.
7 DEALING WITH BURST PIPES
Make sure all pipes are properly insulated. If a pipe does burst, you can use a sleeve clamp over the part that’s leaking.
8 COVER WALLS
Heat loss can be prevented by covering walls with mirrors and pictures. Even a thick poster can add an extra layer of padding, raising the surface temperature inside the house by a degree or two and cutting heat loss.
9 OLD SCHOOL TECHNIQUES
Hot water bottles or bags of warmed up beans may seem obsolete, but they are quite effective. For a more modern approach, running a blow dryer over your bed sheets works well too.
10 UNBLOCK VENTS
If you’ve accidentally placed your furniture in front of the vents, it’s time to move them away. Make sure the vents aren’t blocked, as it disturbs the movement of heat in every room during winter.
