3 Things to consider before you insulate your home this autumn
As the days get shorter and the trees start to lose their leaves, we start to turn our thoughts to making our homes warm and snug for the longer evenings. Some methods are cheaper than others. If money isn’t an obstacle and you understand fully how the process works, then insulation may be for you.
As warm air naturally rises, the area to target first is the roof as you could be losing 25 percent of your heat if your loft isn’t insulated properly, http://www.haringey.gov.uk/environment-and-waste/going-green/green-home-improvements/heat-loss-homes, so this is one of the areas you need to target first.
Affording it
The first and most simple factor to consider is if you can afford to have your house insulated. Something like insulation could be an investment in your house as it will add value to it. Despite that fact you still need to be able to afford insulation for your house for it to happen. It may be that you can’t afford to pay for it outright but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up on the opportunity to have it done. For example, if you have built up enough equity in your house you may be able to release some it to make these home improvements. If you’re looking for a Equity Release Gloucestershire based company, then look no further than https://www.palmermortgages.co.uk/financial-services/equity-release-gloucestershire/
Windows
The second factor to consider is that your windows could be accounting for 10 percent of your heat loss. Most people’s first thought for preventing this is to install double glazing, but this is an expensive option and while it’s undoubtedly effective, if you don’t want the expenditure involved there are some other lower-cost solutions you can consider.
A major source of problems around windows and doors is draughts. You can buy sealing strips in any good DIY store that will help you stop up the gaps where draughts get in. Preventing draughts makes a big difference to how warm a room feels. You can also apply a film to the inside of the window frames. This is applied to the inside of the window frames and stretched with a heat gun to make it taught. While it’s an effective means of insulation it is easily damaged and will need regular replacement. Most people using this method choose to apply film in autumn and remove it in spring.
Curtains and blinds
We tend to think of curtains and blinds as being purely decorative, but in fact, they can have a positive effect on heat loss too. Waterproof rollers are ideal for bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms.
For lounges and bedrooms, curtains with an insulating lining are a good solution. Make sure that you draw them in the evenings to keep in heat. It’s important that you don’t let curtains cover your radiators as this will lead to heat being channelled up behind the curtains and lost. A curtain across the inside of doors can help to stop draughts and prevent heat loss too.
Other things to consider are old-fashioned draught excluders across the bottom of doors. Consider too where your furniture is positioned, make sure for example that sofas are not pushed up against radiators so that warm air is able to circulate.
