It’s been a long and fantastically hot summer this year, but all things come to an end. And as the frost starts to appear in the mornings and the temperature begins to drop, the goal for all of is is to keep our homes lovely and warm through the colder half of autumn and the chill of winter. 

 

Most of the time, this involves putting on the heating at full blast. But there could be some simpler, more effective – and certainly cheaper – ways to keep your house warm. And, if you have ever asked yourself why your house is cold even if you have the heating on, these tips and tricks can help. 

 

So, without further ado – let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your home is cold, and what you can do to improve the efficiency, reduce your heating costs, and keep comfy throughout the colder months. Let’s take a closer look. 

The first port of call when checking why your home is so cold should be your windows. Believe it or not, windows – especially older designs like sash windows – can be a terrible burden when it comes to keeping heat in and cold out. Draughts can be common, and if you have single pane glass windows, you have probably noticed they lose a lot of heat. It’s also worth checking around the frames of the windows. If there are any holes or gaps – caused by rot or just misalignment of the frames then this can increase the amount of draughts you let in, and it is also a culprit for leaking hot air out of the home. 

 

The solution? Well, of you are on a budget, filling any holes and realigning your windows so there are no gaps is a good start. You can also try using simple draught excluders and insulating film, which you can pick up for a few pounds. But if you really want to make a massive difference, your best best is to replace your single pane windows for double glazed alternatives. It’s far more efficient, and you will also get the added bonus of keeping external noise out of the home. 

Your doors are another major culprit when it comes to letting in draughts and cold air into your home – and leaking out all the heat. If you notice a slight chilly breeze hitting your skin while in the hallway, there’s a good chance there is something up with your door. Like with window frames, misalignment might be an issue, but if you can’t find the problem, it might just be your door. In this case, you can get some draught excluder brushes that can be fitted around your door frame and ensure everything is secure. 

 

Check your letterbox and keyhole, too. Although these spaces are quite small, they can chill the air a lot more than you think – especially when the temperature drops to freezing during the winter months. The good news is there are some simple fixes. You can get brushes for letterboxes, and a simple sliding cover for your keyhole – one either side of the door for best effect – can be incredibly useful. Of course, it could be that you need a new door altogether. If so, try and find yourself a nice composite door that is a lot more thermally efficient than a standard wooden door. 

Conservatories are traditionally hard to heat. Because they are built of glass and some will only have a non-insulated roof, the reality is that when winter comes, conservatories can be chilly old places. Even if you heat the space, it is likely that the hot air will escape outside if you have a single-pane affair. However, it is possible to make a significant difference in aa variety of different ways. 

 

Installing double glazing into your conservatory can make a huge difference to its energy efficiency. And even using blinds and shutter thought the winter months can make the conservatory feel far warmer than it was before. However, perhaps the best thing you can do is not use your conservatory when it’s cold. 

 

In truth, it will not be possible to bring a room made of glass and plastic up to the same temperature of a room in a house with a tiled roof and made of bricks. It’s just not going to happen. But the advantages of a conservatory for the rest of your home are pretty clear. If you don’t heat it, all those windows – and the environment inside them – can act as an extra layer of insulation for your home. So instead of spending a fortune on upgrading your conservatory, something simple like sealed blinds and a sealed sliding door can actually make more of a difference. 

Finally, improving your home’s insulation should be one of your major priorities because it is a great way to prevent unnecessary and – ultimately – expensive – heat loss. But where should you start? Loft spaces and roofs are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to heat loss in your home. Don’t forget,heat rises, so getting your attic and loft areas insulated in the right way will improve your home’s warmth by a significant amount. Not to mention the fact that it will save you a lot of money on your heating bills. 

 

Professional loft insulation can be an expensive option, of course. However, it’s not too difficult if you wanted to try a DIY job if you simply don’t have the budget. You can pick up effective rolls of insulation foam for a little investment, the truth is that you only need a few rolls of fibreglass or recycled paper insulation to make a difference to your home’s efficiency. If you do go down this route, make sure that you wear the right protective clothing. This should include gloves, goggles and a face mask. And a final tip about DIY insulation – always leave a gap around the eaves in your roo. Doing this will help you avoid condensation. 

When it is cold in winter, keeping your family entertained is hard when the weather takes a turn for the worst. Completing family treasure hunts is a great way to keep everyone entertained. Watch your favourite film and snuggle under a blanket will definitely pass a few hours. Building a den under a sheet and your clothes airier will keep your children occupied with hours of fun. Just remember to think outside of the box and you and your family will keep warm as well as having that entertaining aspect too! 

 

Hopefully, these ideas will help you find your cold problem – and fix it. Contact us if you need further help! 

 

 

 

Sources 

 

* https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587337/DECC_factsheet_11.11.16_GLAZING_LOCKED.pdf – Source for C Rated Windows