Surviving Winter: How to Keep Homes Warm and Cosy

During winter, our homes can sometimes feel too chilly, making us uncomfortable.

This is known as underheating and occurs when not enough heat is retained inside the house. Underheating can happen due to various reasons such as a lack of sunlight to warm up the home, inadequate insulation on walls and roofs to keep the heat trapped within the house, cold drafts from leaky windows and windows, and inefficient heating systems. These, among other factors, can contribute to the overall discomfort experienced during the winter months.

It is essential to address these issues to create a cosy and warm home environment. In the UK, a significant portion of energy use in our homes is attributed to space heating, with the unfortunate reality being that the majority of these homes are not energy efficient. This is mainly because our housing stock is old and is marked by issues such as drafts and poor or no insulation, all factors that pose a considerable challenge.

This combination of old homes and poor energy efficiency results in high heating costs and can contribute to fuel poverty for many residents. Addressing these issues is crucial not only for reducing energy expenses but also for creating more sustainable and affordable living conditions for all.

We can do some simple things to keep our homes warm and spend less on energy costs.

Installing insulation:

Just like you would use a duvet in bed to keep warm during the winter, insulation can have the same effect of keeping your home warm and cosy.

When we heat our homes, insulation works like a down jacket for your home and helps to trap the warm air inside to keep it comfortable. Insulating our homes not only enhances comfortable indoor temperatures in the winter but also reduces the need for excessive heating, leading to cost savings on energy bills.

As insulation works to reduce the rate at which heat leaves or enters a building, insulation can also work in the opposite way during warmer months by preventing unwanted heat from entering the home, maintaining a cooler indoor environment without overreliance on cooling. Adding loft and wall insulation tends to be the most typical and effective insulative measures you can adopt in your home.

Keeping the doors and windows closed shut and sealing leaks and draughts:

Although it is simpler said than done, in the winter we need to keep the cold air out and warm air in. By keeping our doors and windows closed we can reduce the risk of unwanted heat loss.

We also need to consider any leaks and draughts.

These are commonly found where two separate building materials meet, for example, at locations of door and window frames. The sealing of these gaps or cracks minimises the risk of heat loss.

With doors, draught excluders, or stoppers at the bottom of external doors can be used to prevent warm air from escaping from gaps.

With windows, applying weather stripping around the edges of the window can serve the same preventative function.

Welcoming the sun in:

Imagine that the sun is a giant heater in the sky. When it is sunny, you can open your curtains and let the sunlight in to warm your home for free!

Just like you would experience warmth when basking in the sun, your home can be heated by the sun.

As the UK lies in the northern hemisphere, you can expect some heat gain from the sun through windows or glazed doors located to the east (morning sun), south (late morning to early afternoon sun), and west (afternoon sun) of your home.

You might want to arrange your furniture in a way that maximises your use of sunlight.

For example, where welcome, you can position your sofa in a location where sunlight would tend to fall or move a wardrobe that is blocking the sun.

Using supplementary heat sources:

For most of us in the UK, unless you have recently invested in a heat pump, the boiler is the heart of your home’s central heating system.

Whichever supplementary heating system you may have, it is important to make sure it is working well so your house stays warm.

To help your heating work better you should set your thermostat to a comfortable but not too high temperature. If you have radiators, make sure they are not blocked by furniture so they can spread warmth effectively.

You should keep up maintenance of your home’s heating system by scheduling regular check-ups for your boiler to be inspected by a professional at least once a year to ensure it is working efficiently.

If you use standalone heaters, it is important to keep safety and energy efficiency in mind. For example, you should start by reading all the usage instructions that came with the heater.

Typically, during use, you should ensure the heater is kept in a well-ventilated space and is clear from furniture, curtains, and other potentially combustible materials.

Heaters will have varying efficiency performance ratings that you should review before purchase.

Making small personal adjustments:

There are also some simple changes you can try to make before you reach for your thermostat to turn up the heat. For example, layering up when cold and keeping blankets on sofas and chairs to add warmth when you are sitting, are inexpensive ways of protecting yourself from the cold when inside.

Also, just like you might enjoy a hot cuppa on a cold day, cooking warm meals can make your house warmer too! The heat from your stove spreads around, helping keep you warmer.

Using warm furnishings:

Curtains and rugs act like sweaters and can trap the warmth inside your home and make it feel more snug. For example, hanging thick (heavyweight) curtains over windows and doors can not only work to reduce the rate at which heat leaves your home, but in older ‘leaky’ homes, they can also be used to create an additional barrier against draughts. Placing rugs and carpets on bare floors can function as insulation, keeping the floor warmer and reducing heat loss.

Now that you know some of the simple things you can do to keep your home warm and cosy, here are some practical tips you can adopt now.

Conduct a home energy audit to identify areas for improvement:

• Checking and improving home insulation. For example, you can: identify temperature variations that may indicate a lack of insulation; inspect the seals on your doors and windows (e.g. to feel for drafts); examine your attic insulation (e.g. is this present or could this be your next DIY project?); inspect basements and crawl spaces(e.g. check for gaps that can be sealed).

• Program your thermostats for optimal efficiency.

• Examine heating systems for easy fixes (e.g. wrap your water heater and hot water pipes with insulation blankets to retain heat and reduce energy consumption).

• Consider undertaking a professional audit. Consider DIY projects:

• Weather stripping doors and windows.

• Draught proof your home, e.g. sew your own draught excluder.

• Insulate your pipes and attics.

• Rearrange your furniture to maximise passive solar heating.

• Line light curtains to improve energy saving capabilities.

• Upgrade your heating controls.

Lastly, you can adopt more energy-efficiency practices at home such as adopting simple habits to save energy and reduce overall costs (e.g. turning off lights and appliances when not in use).

Overall, keeping your home warm is not just about comfort; it is a way to create a safe and cosy haven, promoting well-being for you and your loved ones, while also contributing to energy efficiency and a more sustainable living environment.

If you are interested in finding out how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, why not register for a Future Fit Home Plan. The FREE plan provides a step-by-step guide to optimising the energy use specific to your home. Click here to find out more.