HEAT HACK
Property expert shares five clever ways to keep the cold out of your house amid temperature drops in the UK
Keep an eye on areas that cold air could be creeping in
THE temperatures have drastically dropped in recent weeks.
And as we all battle to keep our household costs down, there are some clever ways we can stay warm at home WITHOUT turning the heating on.
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From the obvious to the often forgotten, property expert Joshua Houston shared five nifty ways you can keep your property warm and cosy.
"This week much of the UK is going to experience temperatures that we haven’t felt for many months,l" he said.
"It’s important that people aren’t caught off guard and are warm enough in their homes.
"These tips should help you keep the cold outside air from entering your property."
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Firstly, curtains.
"Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air," Joshua explained to
"Close your curtains particularly at night, as this is when it will be the most cold."
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of "insulation" between your window and curtain.
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"If you have the spare funds, consider investing in heavy curtains as these will do an even better job at keeping that unwanted cold away," he added.
Another home decor addition that can make a massive difference is rugs.
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"Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly," he continued.
"You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
"So instead add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above."
You should also ensure your home is properly insulated - not forgetting pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
"Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30," Joshua explained.
"It’s easy to place in the smaller areas of a loft and does a good job of keeping the cold out of your home, as well as the heat in."
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle - but fortunately it's pretty straight forward to change supplier - and save lots of cash.
Shop around - If you're on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals - meaning you'll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch - When you've found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information - which you can find on your bill - to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won't be interrupted in that time.
Another trick you might think obvious is to keep your internal doors closed as much as possible.
"Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room," he said.
"This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out."
And lastly, stop unnecessary drafts as and where possible.
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Don't forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren't secure.
"Sometimes this won’t always be possible like with your letterbox, but it can at least be secured at night when there’s no post being delivered," Joshua concluded.
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