Heat your home without breaking the bank

(17/02/2009)

Keeping your house warm and cosy can be expensive. So, with fuel costs high and finances low, how do you heat your home without breaking the bank?

1. Insulate your loft and all cavities: Around 25% of your heat is lost through the roof and 35% is lost through your walls so it’s vital that you insulate your home properly. Although there will be an initial cash outlay, you need to look at this as a sound investment which will save you money in the long run. In fact, it’s estimated that an average household can reduce its annual heating bill by hundreds of pounds by installing cavity wall insulation, whilst laying your loft with 25cm thick insulation can cut it by a quarter.

2. Invest in radiator panels: No matter how much heat your radiator pumps out, around half of it ends up being absorbed by the wall behind it. By fitting radiator reflector panels – tin foil type sheets that reflect the heat from behind the radiator back into the room - you can reduce your heating bill by up to 20%.

3. Check your boiler: The type of boiler you have can have a major impact on your fuel bills. If your boiler is over 15 years old, the chances are it isn’t as efficient as some of the newer models. Ask a qualified plumbing and heating engineer for some advice before making any decisions.

4. Invest in double-glazing: Not only do you lose around 10% of your heat through your windows, but they can also be responsible for drafts coming in to the home. There are a number of things you can do to prevent both these things occurring, the most effective being to install double-glazing. This, however, is costly, so if you’re not in a position to take that step, the next best thing is to ensure all curtains and blinds are closed at all times after sunset.

5. Lay a carpet: You can lose as much as 10% of your heat through floorboards so installing carpet can make a huge difference to your fuel costs. Not only does it feel much cosier underfoot on these chilly evenings, but you can also save up to six percent on your heating costs. On a fuel bill of £1000, that’s a saving of £60.

Laura Cohen, interior design expert from www.yourfloors.co.uk, concludes, “The last thing you want to be doing when the weather is as bad as it is at the moment is trawling the high street for new flooring. So why not check out the wide range of carpets, vinyls, laminates, rugs and ceramic tiles at www.yourfloors.co.uk so you can do your shopping from the comfort of your own home? You can choose your carpet online, without having to brave the weather, and have it delivered to your door by your local flooring retailer.”

Related categories:  Boilers - Domestic   Energy Conservation   Radiators: panel, convector, towel rails   Residential applications