During the cold seasons, everyone wants to keep their homes warm and cosy. However, it can be quite challenging, especially if there’s unmanageable heat loss.
It puts excess pressure on the heating system, makes you uncomfortable, increases energy bills, and inflates your carbon footprint.
So, if you want to fix your home’s heat loss issue, here are all the easy fixes to consider!
1. Maintain the Heating System and Get Supplementary Systems
Your current heating system can work efficiently and consume less energy only if it’s well-maintained. So, schedule regular professional servicing. You can also clean the air filters to boost efficiency by yourself.
However, does your current heater efficiently heat your specific room properly? If it’s meant to heat the entire house and there are several cold zones within your room, consider getting a space heater with whole-room heat circulation technology.
Invest in one from a reliable brand that features energy efficiency, is small enough to fit in any room, and is portable, so you can take it to any room.
Some even come with automatic shut-off features, so even if you forget to turn it off before sleeping or stepping out, it will turn off by itself. This prevents excess power consumption and prevents hazards.
2. Seal All Doors and Windows
Often, the most common reason behind heat loss from home is gaps around doors and windows. In fact, 40% of heat loss during winters in Australian homes is through windows,
To check for it, light a candle and take it near your doors and windows. If it flickers, there’s some leak or gap which lets air draft enter.
Take care of it by applying V-strip weatherstripping around the door and window frames. Some also use adhesive foam tapes. If you notice any small cracks and gaps that can’t be sealed using these, apply silicone caulk.
Specifically for doors, install sweeps to the bottom on the exterior side to prevent drafts from entering.
3. Let Sunlight Enter Your Home
During the day, if the sunlight is intense enough, utilise it. Open the blinds and curtains, let sunlight seep in on sunny days and reduce the burden on your heating system.
If there are obstacles like trees that prevent sunlight from entering through your windows, trim them. You can also install reflective window films to let heat stay indoors.
On the other hand, at night and on snowy, chilly days, close the blinds and curtains to retain the warmth indoors. Avoid opening the doors unnecessarily as well.
4. Take Care of the Chimney
Indoor heat often escapes through unused chimneys. Now, if you regularly use the chimneys during colder seasons, get a removable chimney balloon. This way, you can keep the chimney functional but also prevent heat loss when it’s not used.
On the other hand, if you hardly use the chimney, ask a professional to cap it.
5. Fix Floorboards
Assess the floor closely and check for gaps between the boards. Prevent heat escaping from the gaps by filling them with “papier-mâché” – a sticky paper pulp.
You can make it at home by mixing wallpaper paste and shredded/torn old newspapers. Gently fill the gaps with it and press to ensure it’s completely airtight.
Moreover, homes lose heat through floors rapidly. So, install thick rugs and carpets for better insulation. You can also use underlay mats under them to boost warmth.
6. Close All Unused Rooms
Identify the most commonly used rooms in the entire home. Generally, these include some bedrooms, kitchen, dining space, living space, and bathrooms.
Now, identify the rooms you hardly enter and shut the doors. You can also use door seals to ensure no heat escapes into those rooms.
7. Insulate Roof and Ceiling
Since heated air rises up, you may lose heat through the roof if not insulated properly. So, check and replace the roof insulation. Implement reflective options that help reflect heat into your home.
8. Reverse Ceiling Fans
Switch your ceiling fans to winter mode. This reverses the blade rotation direction to clockwise, which pushes warm air downwards. Use them in a low setting to ensure even heat distribution. This can help retain heat indoors for longer.
Conclusion
Besides these, wear extra layers to feel warm and spend time in the same zone with others so you can feel warm without using multiple appliances or needing to reheat a cold room every now and then. With all these measures, you’ll enjoy a cosy and warm winter this year!