Simple DIY tricks to save £250 on heating bills this winter – Wales Online

Home heating expert Dave Raval recommends draught-proofing to stop heat from escaping through windows and doors

Households could cut their energy bills by up to £250 by taking a few simple steps to stop heat from escaping from their property. With energy bills rising and temperatures below zero across the UK, home heating expert Dave Raval says people should look for ways to stop heat from escaping outside.

The LoftZone CEO says that draught-proofing is the most important step to reducing energy consumption. He told the Mirror: “The best energy saving is the energy you don’t use, so finding spots, where heat may be escaping, is key.

“A quarter of a house’s heat is lost by draughts leaking through doors and windows. It’s vital to find those gaps and plug them efficiently.”

A recent survey revealed only 13 per cent of Brits have draught excluders to help keep their homes warm. Dave added: “With the rising costs, you can easily see why draught-proofing your home would be an effective method of helping you to save up to £250 per year off your energy bills. Here are his recommendations for households:

Step 1: Check for gaps

“The first thing I would always do in the home is to look for draughts. Don’t let the money you’ve spent on heating your house seep through the gaps,” Dave said. “One cold evening, go around with your hand across every window and across every door and feel for draughts.

“Older houses typically lose more heat through gaps in doors, floorboards, and windows, so it’s vital to plug these gaps.”

Step 2: Do it yourself

There are some handy DIY hacks you can do around the house to prevent draughts if you’re on a budget.

“You can buy products online and solutions from DIY stores. It is worth checking windows and doors are sealed properly,” Dave said. “Buy some cheap adhesive foam strips to block cold air, and tape around parts of your window can also help.

“Perhaps consider thicker curtains – door curtains used to be a popular thing which has gone out of fashion, but these are great for keeping in the heat too. You can also put cushions or blankets next to your window seals and doors to help plug any gaps.”

Instead of using old cushions or forking out on new ones, you can simply stuff socks and tights with rags and unwanted materials to make your own.

 

Step 3: Head upstairs

As well as draught-proofing windows and doors, it’s important to make sure your loft is keeping as much heat in as possible. In a typical British home, 25 per cent of the heat goes out through the ceiling into the loft and out of the roof.

“Most people have some loft insulation, usually between the joists and maybe two-three inches, but you need a lot more than you think,” Dave said. “The government recommendation is a minimum is 300 millimetres.”

Insulation acts as a woolly hat for your home and traps the heat inside, so you need less energy to heat it constantly. However, it doesn’t stop at simply adding insulation to your loft.

“Most people don’t know that squashing insulation makes it 50 per cent less efficient,” Dave warned. “Don’t put your boxes straight on the insulation or board down directly onto the joists, doing this will double the heat loss which has a big impact on your bills.

“Fluffy loft insulation works by trapping air so when you squash it you get rid of all those air bubbles, and it doesn’t work so well. Raised loft boarding is the best at preventing this. A raised loft system works by creating a raised platform for boarding to rest on above the insulation while allowing it to retain its full depth to help with your energy savings.”

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