As winter approaches, many households are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes. While energy bills have fallen slightly, they remain higher than in previous winters. To help you keep your energy costs as low as possible, we spoke to Tyron Ekrem, founder of boiler and heating specialist, Fair Fix. He shared a clever trick using toilet roll to identify draughts in your home and provided other cost-effective tips to keep your home warm and save money.
Identify Draughts with a Simple Trick
Tyron suggests using a two-ply toilet roll to detect draughts. By removing one layer, you have a thin sheet that can be gently held around windows and doors. If the draught is coming from outside, it will suck the toilet paper in. If it's coming from inside, it will blow the toilet paper from your hand. This trick is not only effective but also incredibly safe to try.
Seal Gaps with Self-Adhesive Weather Strips
Once you've identified the areas with draughts, Tyron recommends using self-adhesive weather strips to seal the gaps around windows and doors. These strips can help prevent cold air from entering your home. You can find affordable rolls of tape from various retailers, such as Dunelm and Amazon. According to the Energy Saving Trust, this simple step could save you around £45 a year on your energy bills.
Additional Tips to Beat the Draught
Along with weather strips, there are other cost-effective solutions to keep your home warm and cozy:
- Invest in a 'door brush' for the bottom of your door. Screwfix offers a heavy-duty brush seal at a reduced price.
- Consider buying a draught excluder. Matalan has a grey teddy fleece version available.
- Create your own draught excluder using an old pair of tights filled with rags.
- Install a draught excluder for your letterbox. B&Q offers one at an affordable price.
Remember not to block any vents when sealing gaps, as these allow fresh air to flow into your home and prevent damp and mould. Additionally, heavy, lined curtains or sealed shutters can help cut draughts, and chimney balloons are effective in keeping the heat in.
Smart Heating Practices
Tyron advises keeping your doors shut to maximize heat efficiency and keeping your thermostat turned down over a more consistent period. This is more energy-efficient than turning the heating off and then dialing it up to high. The same principle applies to your hot water cylinder. Contrary to popular belief, leaving the cylinder on doesn't mean it's constantly in use. It only heats your water when you need it. Constantly turning the boiler and cylinder on and off during the initial start-up phase results in higher energy bills.
Consider a Thermal Camera
If you're willing to invest in a higher-end solution, Tyron suggests using a thermal camera to detect where heat is being lost in your home. This can be particularly useful if you've recently purchased a property and are renovating. Some suppliers, such as Octopus Energy, may offer thermal cameras for loan. These cameras can be connected to your mobile phone via Bluetooth and reveal the exact spots in your home where heat is escaping.
By following these expert tips, you can beat the draught and keep your home warm while saving money on your energy bills this winter.
