However energy efficient your home is, there are always days when you feel like it could be warmer inside. Aside from turning the heating on higher and for longer, there are other ways you can make a room in your home warmer. Here are some ways of keeping heat in a room that you may not have considered.
Window Weaknesses
One of the main ways heat escapes a room is through the window. A typical weak point in any room, it is important to pay close attention to how you can improve the efficiency of your windows. The first thing is to make sure your windows are at least double – if not triple – glazed, and that the seals around the windows are intact. Also take a look at the frame around the window, as this area can be prone to cracks. Fixing any obvious areas of weakness should be a priority. It may cost you some money to get a tradesman in to deal with this for you, but you will reap the rewards once it is done.
Layer Blinds and Curtains
Even when you are certain your windows are in good condition, adding blinds and curtains provides an extra level of protection against the cold. Energy efficient layered window treatments will not only keep the heat in, it will make your windows look more visually appealing too. A good combination is to choose some blinds for the base layer, and then curtains on top. However, you could also incorporate sheer and solid drapes, roman blinds and even wooden shutters. Whatever you choose, adding a layer or two will definitely help to keep the heat in.
Move Obstructions to Heat
Look at the position of the furniture in your room, and see whether it could be absorbing the heat from your radiators or heaters. Since people tend to put furniture along the walls on the outside of the room, there is a high chance you have a piece of furniture blocking the heat. Whether it’s a sofa, bed or side table – move anything out of the way of your radiators. This will ensure the heat is able to enter the room and circulate as much as possible.
Maximize Radiators
Once your radiators are unobstructed, it is time to check the efficiency of the radiators themselves. Water based heating systems pump hot water into the radiators, and sometimes these can become filled with air bubbles. You’ll know whether or not this is the case by feeling the radiator. If it feels colder at the top compared to the bottom, you are likely to have some air in the system. It is easy to bleed the air out of radiators with a simple radiator key and an old towel. You could also consider installing some reflective radiator panels behind your radiators to increase the amount of heat that gets circulated into the room.
Banish Draughts
Another classic route of heat loss from a room is through the doors. Even if the room itself is well insulated, warm and cozy – this effect can quickly be reduced if heat is escaping through a draughty door. The first thing to invest in is a draught excluder – a tube-shaped cushion filled with dense material such as sand. This can be placed at the bottom of the door of the room you are in to stop heat escaping here. If this still doesn’t have the desired effect, add rubber seals to the doorframes too. These two methods should largely eliminate heat escaping in this way.
Let Natural Heat In
Curtains and blinds are brilliant for keeping the heat in a room after dark, but during the day, ensure you keep them open. If these is any sunlight, having open curtains will allow this into the room, keeping a more constant level of heat throughout the day. As soon as it does get dark, it is important to close blinds and curtains once more, as this will maximize the amount of heat that will be retained by the room.
Rugs and Carpets
Hard flooring is another key way that heat can escape a room, so this is something else to consider changing if you want to keep more heat in a particular room. If you don’t want to opt for a fully carpeted look, you could add a plush rug or two in a living space to help retain some of the heat. However, the best way to stop heat from escaping through the floor is to have carpeting fitted. Not only will you benefit from the layer of carpet itself, but a layer of padding is always installed underneath carpet. This gives carpet a little bounce, as well as creating a more energy efficient flooring system. A direct benefit of carpeting or rugs is that it will help to keep your feet warm, which can affect how warm the rest of your body feels too.
