Winter can be a tough season, especially for utility bills; you might find yourself cranking up the heating a lot, taking more hot showers and putting the kettle on more for hot drinks or hot water bottles. All of this can add up to a lot of money spent trying to keep yourself warm and cosy. Not to mention the electricity bill from the increased use of lighting. But there are ways to prepare for winter and there are ways to keep the costs to a minimum.
1. A good boiler
Make sure your boiler is in top working condition and is working at its optimum level to reduce the energy spent heating your home. A faulty boiler will only cost you more in heating and hot water, so making sure you get it tuned up or getting a new, more efficient one will save you money and keep you warm.
2. Insulation
Make sure that you have done all you can to insulate your house through wall insulation, loft insulation and conservatory roof insulation, if it applies. A well-insulated home can save you so much money on your heating bills and make your home a lot more comfortable with barely any effort. Sometimes, even blasting your heating at the highest temperature can mean nothing if your home isn’t retaining the heat for long enough.
3. Thermal clothing/layers
Where possible, wear a few more layers and even enjoy some snuggly blankets while you’re watching TV or reading your books. There are a lot of options these days, like oodies and onesies, especially in fun characters.
4. Bleed your radiators
Every so often, it is a good idea to bleed your radiators to make sure that they are in top working condition. The difference between an optimum working radiator and one that is not is like the ink from a pen just about to run out.
5. Clean your gutters and insulate your pipes
What do gutters have to do with a warm home? Cleaner gutters will give you less chance of accidental water damage from water spilling down your walls. Also, add some insulation to your pipes where possible to avoid them freezing.
6. Draught-free windows and doors!
Don’t forget to make sure your windows and doors are draught-free and keep the heat in too. More insulation means less energy used in heating your home, so double-glazed windows and good doors make all the difference. If you can’t do anything about this for financial or rental/leasehold reasons, there are some DIY options as well: draught excluders can be placed underneath doors, draught strips or insulation film for windows and thick, thermal curtains to further stop the cold coming inside and heat leaving.
7. Smart thermostat
There’s a lot of smart tech that can make winter so much easier, one of them being a thermostat: you can control your heating from the touch of a button on your phone and turn it off if you’ve found that you’ve accidentally left it on after leaving the house. A good idea for those who might have left the house in a hurry!
Final thoughts
Make sure everything is up-to-date and fully functioning, bring out your winter clothing and take a look at your insulation needs. If you’re worried about being unable to use your conservatory anymore for fear of the cold, the CI Group can make sure you get a better-insulated roof to keep you cosy through every season.
