Is your home protected for winter? Have you insulated your water pipes, cleared your gutters, and tested your carbon monoxide alarm? If not, now is the best time to start. Read on to find out more about all of the areas to pay attention to for energy efficiency and more comfort in winter; if you can’t take care of everything in time, focus on the boiler, the gutters, and the water pipes.
Roof Insulation
In the average home, around a quarter of heat is lost through the roof, making your energy bills soar, so if you want to reduce the price you pay for energy this winter, make sure you insulate the home properly, starting with the roof. There are a few good options for your roof insulation.
The majority of homes use fibreglass, cellulose, or recycled wool in the loft to trap heat when it rises and force it back down into the home. Along with effective roof insulation, you will also need a smart thermostat that alters the temperature based on the requirement of your rooms.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas; it is emitted from gas appliances such as cookers, heaters, boilers, and fires. Since people are using these appliances more often in the winter, there is a high chance of encountering a carbon monoxide leak somewhere in the home.
If you want to keep your family safe this winter, make sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm in the home; these alarms are small and convenient; you can buy them in local home stores and on the internet. When you buy a carbon monoxide alarm, make sure you test it before using it.
Water Pipes
Make sure the water pipes in your home are insulated and protected through the winter. If there is water sitting the pipes through the cold nights of winter, there is a high chance the water will freeze, expand, and burst the water pipes. This can be an expensive and inconvenient issue.
The good news is this issue is easy to solve prior to the cold weather; all you need is some foam tube insulation, some plastic tie wraps, and a Stanley knife. Cut a slit down the foam insulation and wrap it around the pipes, tie them with tie wraps and leave taps running slightly.
Water Tank
Chances are you are wrapped up warm for the winter with your warm sweater, hot drinks, and winter socks, but what about your water tank? A water tank can also be insulated, making your hot water system more efficient and saving you money on your energy bills throughout winter.
An insulation jacket for a water tank can be bought cheaply from a local home store; it is also quite easy to install. The insulation jacket prevents heat loss and maintains the temperature of the tank, meaning you need less heat to warm it up. It’s another efficiency saving you can make.
Clean Gutters
Another common issue in the winter is blocked gutters and drains. In the fall and early winter, leaves get into the gutters and prevent water from draining from the roof; instead, the water accumulates on the roof and starts to seep into the walls causing issues with mold and rot.
Drains can also be an issue in the winter; again, the leaves get into the drains and block them, causing flooding when heavy rain arrives; this can be an expensive and inconvenient task to resolve. It’s best to contact a professional to handle Blocked drains in the local area you live.
Smart Meter
A smart meter is an excellent device to have in your home. Most homes have a thermostat that you can adjust depending on whether you are in the room or not; the trouble is people often forget to turn off the device when they are not using the space, not with a smart thermostat.
A smart meter is able to detect when a room is being used or not and turns on and off according to requirements. Some smart thermostats can also be operated using an app so that you can control the temperature of your home while you are in town shopping or returning to your home.
Bleed Radiators
When it comes to efficiency in winter, every little counts; that’s why you should consider bleeding radiators now and again. When a radiator has air in the system, it is less efficient; you might notice radiators are warmer at the bottom and cooler at the top; it’s time to bleed them.
Bleeding the radiator is simpler than it sounds, and once you have done it once, you can repeat the task easily at any time. You will need a bleed key that you should have with your radiator, or you can buy it at a home store and turn the valve until the heating stops and the air is cleared.
Heavy Curtains
Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference; in this case, heavy curtains are an excellent way to trap the heat you generate in the rooms and reduce your energy bills without expensive refurbishments or insulation installations. Heavy curtains are a must in winter.
Along with heavy curtains, you might also consider draft excluders to keep your home warm. Using these simple ideas coupled with a smart thermostat, you should get the most efficiency out of your home’s energy systems and reduce your costs at a time when the prices are rising.
Boiler Checks
The home’s boiler is an intricate system that needs a professional check at least once a year; the best time for a boiler check is before the cold weather sets in; that way, you have full confidence that the boiler is working properly and you don’t have any unexpected surprises.
Final Thoughts
If there is one season when your home requires careful attention, it’s the winter season. During the winter, there are issues with burst pipes, faulty boilers, and carbon monoxide, so make sure your family is healthy and protected by protecting your home before the winter starts for real.