Did you know that 25-30% of heat loss in your home happens through doors and windows*?
That’s a lot.
But if you’ve got double glazed windows that are, say, 25 years old, then your windows are 50% less efficient than double glazed windows fitted today**.
That’s bad news for your comfort…and your bank balance.
So how can you keep your home warm in the winter and save money in the process?
This blog lists 10 ways to reduce heat loss in a house that are cheap and easy to implement.
*Study quoted by Stay Warm Energy
** Statistic from a 2023 study from GGF and British Glass ‘A Window of Opportunity’
1. Use heavy curtains and a pelmet box
for use in rooms where glazing is causing discomfort due to draughts and heat loss. These will help to keep heat within a room and block out draughts. Curtains should be opened daily to allow the room to ventilate and for any condensation to evaporate, preventing mould growth to the frames and window reveals.
2. Install radiator reflector panels
where a radiator is on an external wall to reflect heat into the room. This method is low-cost, easy to install and will really boost the energy efficiency of a room where the external wall is already insulated.
3. Fit draught seals around windows and external doors.
There are a few options you can get from DIY stores that will suit your home’s style of window. You can even replace the draught seals within the frames if your glazing is not sealing shut correctly.
4. Buy a draught excluder for your letterbox and covers for your keyholes.
These are cheap, easy to install and will boost your efforts to keep heat in and stop draughts blowing through your hallway, alongside new door seals.
5. Block open chimneys.
There are plenty of temporary ways to plug your chimney when it’s not in use, such as an inflatable flue blocker, ‘chimney sheep’, or a chimney cap. Whichever method you choose, it’s important that ventilation is maintained to prevent a damp chimney breast.
6. Loft insulation.
As heat rises, the loft is where most of a property’s heat accumulates. You can help trap this heat within the home and keep it out of the loft space with loft insulation. This type of insulation is cheaper and more convenient to install than other methods, and you can start seeing a return on your investment in a short period of time. A minimum of 300mm loft insulation is recommended. For best results, make sure to insulate and draughtproof loft hatches, as well as sealing any penetrations for recessed light fittings to prevent heat and moisture getting in through these areas.
7. External wall insulation.
It’s not rocket science, but insulating your external walls will have a big impact on how much heat you can keep inside your home. External wall insulation (EWI) is attached to the outside of your walls to trap heat, and provides a protective layer against weathering. This will also improve the aesthetics of your home by applying a new render, brick, or cladding finish.
8. Insulate suspended timber floors during renovation.
Many houses built before 1940 had raised timber floors but these houses can suffer from significant heat loss. You may think that blocking external air bricks to prevent draughts is a good idea, but your floor needs ventilation to prevent wet rot occurring. Installing insulation under the floors between the joists will block draughts, and keep the heat in, while sub-floor vents in the walls ensure the space beneath the floor is well-ventilated and dry.
9. Insulate floors over unheated spaces (e.g. recessed porches or garages).
In the same way that raised wooden floors lose heat, rooms above unheated spaces can lose a lot of heat which can make for uncomfortable living in a well-used part of the house, such as a bedroom. You can either insulate the ceiling of the unheated space, or insulate the floor between the joists in the bedroom.
10. Invest in double, triple or secondary glazing to reduce heat loss and condensation.
This is another quick win for older-style properties that have blown windows or simply where the windows are letting in outside air. Updated glazing alongside trickle vents will not only help keep the heat in, it ensures that the room is sufficient ventilated and eliminates noise pollution.
Want to know the measures that will work the hardest to keep heat in your home? Read more about Energy Lock’s Retrofit Assessment service.