Tuesday’s Tips – Simple ways to heat up your home

From heaters to insulation, there are plenty of simple and inexpensive things you can do around your home to make it a whole lot warmer this winter.

1. Insulation

With energy costs rising, insulation is a must. It slows down the transfer of heat but can also lower your heating bills. There are insulation batts or insulation panels that you install in your ceiling and walls. There are lots of different types and the higher the energy rating, the more energy efficient.

2. Curtains and Blinds

It is estimated that about 40 per cent of the heat in our homes escapes through exposed windows. A great way to retain it is to hang some curtains or install some blinds.  Make sure that they cover the whole window and extend below the window frame.

3. Sealing

Most homes have lots of gaps and cracks, some you might not even notice. That is until they start letting in cold draughts. You can seal up gaps and cracks around doors and windows with weather stripping. There’s gap filler to fill cracks in your walls. You can also attach draught sweeps to the bottom of doors, use draught excluder door seals, or even a simple door draught stopper.

4. Carpets and Rugs

Carpet is a great way to reduce heat loss through your floor. Combined with an underlay, it helps insulate the room and acts like a blanket for your feet. Hardwood or concrete floors can get pretty chilly but you can still lay down some rugs in the areas you need them most, like the lounge, home office or bedrooms.

5. Heaters

There are plenty of energy efficient heater options available for both your indoors and outdoors. Keep them free of dust and clean any filters regularly to ensure they last.

Heater lights and heated towel racks can make mornings in the bathroom a whole lot warmer. You can also warm up your outdoor space with a range of outdoor heaters or even a chimenea.