Modern homes are usually well-insulated and cheap to heat. But if you’re living in an older property, you’re probably spending a lot of money on energy bills in the winter unless you want to live in a freezing cold house. Some people will just accept that because they can afford to pay those huge energy bills. But if you’ve got a family, chances are, high energy bills play havoc with your monthly budget. You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place because living in a cold house isn’t nice and it can even cause health problems if the temperatures are especially low, but paying to heat the house in the winter is costing you way too much. So, what can you do? Luckily, the causes of a cold house can usually be fixed quite easily and it shouldn’t cost you too much money. Even if you do have to spend a bit more than you’d like to, you’ll make that money back in a few years because your energy bills will be reduced. If you’re fed up with living in a freezing cold house, here’s what you can do about it.
Windows
Older properties usually have nice wooden windows which look great, but they’re nowhere near as efficient as modern windows. They’ll probably be single pane and if the frames are damaged, they’ll let a lot of heat out of the house. While you might not want to ruin the traditional aesthetic of the house, you should change the windows if you want to cut your energy bills. The best way to find a balance between functionality and appearance is to get custom windows made so they fit with the rest of the house (visit here for more information). Always go for double glazed windows, they’ll hold so much more heat in the house and they’ll also block any noise from outside which is perfect if you’re living near a busy road or near a city center.
If you can’t afford to replace all of the windows in the house or you’re dead against changing the original windows, there are cheaper options. You can get insulating film to put over the windows, it costs next to nothing and it’ll keep some of the heat in. It won’t be as effective as double glazed windows but it’s a good middle ground.
Flooring
Hardwood floors are another great feature that you often find in older properties but, again, they’re not great for keeping the heat in. When the weather is cold, those wooden floors are going to be freezing cold against your feet and they won’t insulate the house very well at all. Carpets are far better for keeping the heat in and they’ll be a lot cozier in the winter. If you don’t want to get rid of the hardwood flooring completely, you can use a nice rug to help insulate the house and make it more comfortable. You’ll still get the benefit of putting carpet down but you don’t have to get rid of the wooden flooring.
Fireplace
A fireplace is a great feature to have in the house but the chimney is essentially a big hole letting drafts into the house all the time. You’ve got to decide whether you want to use the fireplace or if it’s just going to be a cosmetic feature. If you’re not bothered about using it, the solution is a little easier. You can brick up the chimney or get chimney draft excluders that are like a small balloon which plugs the gap. However, if you do want to use the fire, you can’t block the chimney because the dangerous smoke won’t get out and you risk carbon monoxide poisoning. The best option is to get panel doors to cover the fireplace when it isn’t in use.
Small Drafts
Even if you sort out the bigger issues like windows, flooring, and fireplaces there are still going to be a lot of small drafts around the house that all add up and make the house freezing cold. Finding all of these small gaps and plugging them will make more of a difference than you realize. The letterbox is a big one. All you need to do is put a brush over it and you’ll be able to stop any cold air getting in. You can also get a small cover over the keyhole to block the draft coming in there as well. The door lets in a lot of air as well but that can be easily fixed. You can use a draft excluder at the bottom but it’s a bit annoying having to move it every time you open the door. You might be better off with brushes similar to the ones you’ve got on the letterbox instead.
Make these small changes around the house and you’ll see a significant drop in the cost of heating in no time.
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