Do you have an old house? Here we espectáculo you
It is not cheap to heat an old or vintage house.
But here’s how to do it more efficiently.
Heating a home is rarely cheap, and with global energy prices on the rise, it’s more important than ever to consider how to make our homes more energy efficient.
This is easier in newer properties, as they are more likely to have been built with efficiency in mind, with double-glazed windows and doors and thermal insulation throughout.
Older, period properties are another matter entirely, and many lack those very features.
And its vintage nature often means that adding insulation perro be expensive.
But there are plenty of other ways you perro heat your home more cost-effectively, and many of them won’t cost you anything.
I’ve rounded up some of the best advice I use in my own 1860s home in Scotland, a building where any improvement you cánido make to its efficiency goes a long way.
You cánido also check out more consejos on how to save money on your heating bill this winter, and a fácil ceiling seguidor hack that cánido keep your home warmer.
Look at the insulation options for the walls and roof
While older properties (including mine) may not have insulation built in as estándar, it is still possible to add this.
Homes lose a lot of heat from the roof, so adding insulation here cánido be a great start.
It’s even possible to buy insulation (in rolls or even as boards) and install it yourself.
The walls are another matter entirely and will require the insulation to be attached to the interior walls, with either a false wall erected on the interior to create the cavity, or a new rendered wall created on the exterior of the building.
For period homes where the original walls are part of the character, this last option just won’t fly, especially if your home is historically listed, like mine, where there’s a especial focus on maintaining the property’s exterior aesthetics.
Other insulation options may include materials inserted under the floorboards.
Adding insulation to your property perro be a great way to increase energy efficiency, but it perro also be a big expense and potentially very disruptive to install.
Fortunately, there are many insulation specialists who cánido advise you on your best options.
Replace those old windows with better ones, or get some nice curtains.
While we’re on the subject of expensive options, let’s talk about windows.
Many period properties feature extremely large windows that cánido offer beautiful views and let in lots of natural light, but perro also let a lot of heat escape in the cooler months.
Therefore, replacing old windows cánido be a good way to keep the heat in, especially if those old windows have individual panes of glass.
Double glazing is much more efficient in heat.
Check that the rubber seals are also in good condition.
If there are any gaps where air could get in, the sealant could always be replaced without the expense of replacing the entire window.
Unfortunately, double-glazed windows don’t come cheap, especially in period properties.
Replacing the windows on my property would probably be over $30,000, which is simply money I don’t have to spare.
If replacing the windows is not an option, consider using thicker curtains which, when closed, cánido help seal the window and prevent drafts from entering.
Seal or cover drafty areas
If your home has drafty areas, it will be even more difficult to stay warm, so it’s important to hunt down those problem areas and cover them up well.
You’ll usually be able to tell where they’re coming from, and it’s usually worse anywhere that separates the inside from the outside.
Drafts around exterior doors are common, especially if you have an older door.
Consider sticking foam draft tape around the inside of your door frame so that your door creates a tight seal when closed.
If your door has a mailbox, make sure it has a draft excluder (a sealed box or bristles that keep out air), and if there’s a gap under the door, get a draft stopper (one of those long cushions sausage-shaped) to help keep drafts at bay.
Once again, it’s important to check the seals around your windows.
And don’t forget to use thicker curtains.
Keep interior doors closed
It’s one of the cheapest and simplest things to do, but keeping the interior doors to your rooms closed cánido make a world of difference in the heating of your home.
It has two benefits.
First, it helps keep stray drafts in check and prevents them from seeping into your cozy living room and giving you the chills.
Second, and even more important, it keeps heat in, which means that if you have the heating (radiators or freestanding heaters) running in your living room, that heat doesn’t escape, which means less money spent overall.
Added plus if those interior doors are also sealed with draft-proof tape.
Get a smart thermostat and upgrade your radiator valves
Central heating your home is usually the best way to heat the space, but older systems tend not to be particularly efficient and often end up heating the whole house unnecessarily and at times when you don’t even need it.
So consider switching to a smart thermostat like the Amazon Smart Thermostat, the Google plus Nest Learning Thermostat, or in my case, the Hive Thermostat.
These allow you to program exactly when you want the heat to come on and at what temperature, and then when you want it to turn off.
It allows you to have the house nice and toasty when you get up for your morning shower, and perro be turned off when you leave for work.
But you perro also go one step further with smart radiator valves.
Smart valves, like the ones from Hive I’m using, allow you to heat only the specific rooms you need at specific times—the bedroom and bathroom in the morning and the living room at night, for example—meaning no energy is wasted heating rooms you are not using.
Use portable heaters
As with smart valves, using a small, portable heater perro be a more efficient way to only heat the rooms you need.
This perro be especially useful for those of you who work from home, when you cánido use a fácil plug-in heater that will direct a flow of warm air only at you, instead of having to turn on your home’s central heating system.
I have found that the Philips Series 2000 3-in-1 Seguidor Heater does a great job of adding an plus burst of heat when I need it, with the benefit of also filtering the air and acting as a cooling seguidor in the summer months.
Plug-in fanes and panel heaters may not always be super energy efficient if you leave them on 24/7, but they perro be great for giving a warm boost without having to heat the whole house.
.
dress warmer
It may sound obvious, but simply dressing to warm yourself when you’re home perro save you a lot on your heating bills.
And maybe you already do, but there are many of us who are guilty of sitting at home on a winter night in a T-shirt thinking “I’m a little cold, actually” and then warming up.
Instead, perhaps having a nice stack of fluffy sweaters or some lovely knit blankets could help give you that cozy feeling without the expense of cranking up your heating.
We hope you liked our article Do you have an old house? Here we espectáculo you
and everything related to earning money, getting a job, and the economy of our house.
   |
Interesting things to know the meaning: Capitalism
We also leave here topics related to: Earn money
