Keeping the heat in

When it’s colder outside than inside, all houses will lose heat. Identifying where the heat in your home is being lost is key to making your home more heat efficient.

There are two types of heat loss:

Fabric heat loss

This is when heat is lost through any part of the house structure which is exposed either to the outside air, or to some other unheated space, such as the building materials used to construct the house.

Ventilation heat loss

This is when heat escapes as a result of airflow into and out of the house. This can be via controlled ventilation openings such as windows, doors, airbricks, grilles and vents, or through uncontrolled gaps in the fabric of the building such as cracks in the windows, doors, electrical and plumbing outlets, or between skirting and floorboards.

There are a number of ways that you can improve the amount of heat lost in your home:

Draught Proofing

The gaps in the windows and doors are the biggest heat loss contributors in the home so you should do your best to fix all the unnecessary drafts as you can. This can be done by using compression seals that are basically a foam strip that can be pinned to the window frame or door frame. It can also be done by gun applied sealants which is a tube that contains silicone that is mainly used for small or irregularly shaped places. Many may think that draft proofing costs too much but it has been found that it costs on average £35-£40 a year.

Loft Insulation

Loft insulation is another simple approach to reducing the amount of heat lost as heat rises up the roof space so it’s best to trap all the heat before it can escape through the roof.  There are a few types of insulation available such as mineral fibre quilt, loose fill mineral fibre or natural wood insulation.

Window Insulation

The rate at which heat flows through various parts of the house structure is called the U-value. The lower the U-value the lower the rate at which heat will escape – and the better the energy efficiency. There are a number of window insulation options available these are double glazing, secondary glazing and thermal lining your curtains.

Avoiding Condensation

It is best to avoid condensation where possible as it causes stains, mould and damage to the windows, walls and furniture. As a result this extra moisture makes It much harder to heat the home. Condensation generated from washing, bathing and cooking should be minimised by ensuring your bathroom and kitchen have appropriate ventilation.