With the rising cost of household energy bills, many people are worried about the colder months ahead and how this will affect them or relatives that are struggling to heat their homes.
We spoke to some experienced Harold Wood estate agents to get their top tips, tricks and advice to increase the energy efficiency of your home which can help to make it warmer, reduce your energy usage, save money and decrease your carbon footprint.
DIY
Take control of tackling your homes energy efficiency by doing some small DIY projects. They don’t have to be big, complex or expensive, all the little jobs will soon add up to big energy savings. Here are a few things to focus on;
● Draughts – Doors, windows, loft hatches and chimneys are prone to draughts and can be responsible for a lot of heat loss. There are a number of easy to use and affordable products on the market to help like draught excluders, window foam seal, metallic or plastic brush strips, draught proof keyholes and letterboxes.
● Pipes – You’d be surprised how much heat loss can occur from your heating system, pipes, tanks and radiators. It is very cheap and easy to fit your hot water tank with a cylinder jacket, put foam tubing around the pipework or add reflective panels behind your radiators.
Home decor
Who says you can’t jazz up your house whilst making it more energy efficient? Adding some stylish yet practical soft furnishings in key areas or making small changes is not only a great way to give your property a new look but can make a huge difference in the heat retention and overall feel of the house.
● Curtains – Use heavy lined materials to dress windows and prevent draughts.
● Rugs – Cover cold, tile or wood floors with large, plush rugs to help reduce heat loss.
● Carpet – This is a better insulating material than wood or tiles so in rooms such as living rooms or bedrooms, maybe get them carpeted if you can.
● Furniture – If you have furniture covering radiators then it’s time to move the room around so they are unobstructed.
Insulation
Depending on when your home was built and the type of insulation levels it has can make a huge difference on how much heat is being retained. It might require spending some money to begin with but there are some energy grant schemes available which can help pay towards it if you are eligible.
● Cavity wall insulation – This simple fix has long lasting effects and fills the gaps between the outside and inside wall of your home using dense insulating materials.
● Solid wall insulation – Those with solid walls can have old exterior bricks covered with cladding to help improve energy efficiency.
● Loft insulation – Heat rises, which means in a home, a poorly insulated loft can lead to heat escaping through the roof. There are a number of different types available and you could even choose to install it yourself if you feel capable.
Double glazing
This one isn’t a small cost, but it is something that makes a huge impact, especially on properties with older, ineffective or single-glazed windows. Not only do double-glazed windows help to keep the heat in, but they keep noise out, prevent condensation and reduce draughts considerably. They also add value to the home so could be well worth the investment.