Chilly January is well and truly underway, but could we be keeping ourselves warmer and therefore happier in our homes – and also saving energy at the same time?
Many householders could make their homes more comfortable and reduce their bills at this time of year with just a few simple steps.
*Bleed your radiators by reducing the air trapped at the top, which stops them filling completely with hot water. This can be done with a cheap radiator key.
*Try covering a thin sheet of card with tinfoil and sliding it between the wall and the radiator – it will reflect the heat back into the room, helping to warm the space up faster.
*Move furniture away from in front of radiators to allow the heat to circulate round the room.
*During the day, keep blinds and curtains open to make the most of any thermal gain from sunshine streaming in.
*As soon as the light fades, close blinds and curtains to keep the heat in. Thick curtains can make a lot of difference.
*Place rugs on hard floors to cover up draughty floorboards, prevent heat loss and keep your feet feeling warmer.
*Close doors and turn off radiators in rooms that are not being used.
*After cooking dinner and switching the over off, leave the door open slightly to let the heat out into your kitchen – be sure to keep children and animals away, however.
*Use your heating timer effectively to make sure you are not heating the house when you don’t need, as well as to ensure you have enough heat at other time.
*Check the temperature in your home regularly – try to set your thermostat between 18 deg C and 21 deg C.
