Preventing heat loss could help to reduce your energy bills in the colder months by keeping your home warmer longer. But just how do homes lose heat? There are a few different places where heat gets lost. This post lists the most common sources of heat loss and how to insulate these areas of your home.
Where Is Your Home Losing Heat?
The Windows
Opening a window is the quickest way to let out heat (and let in cold air). In the cold winter months, try to avoid opening windows as much as you can. Extractor fans and trickle vents can be a great way to keep your home ventilated without having to open windows.
Of course, even closed windows can let out heat. It is worth upgrading your windows if they are single-glazed or have damaged frames - double-glazing and good quality frames will massively reduce heat loss. Using insulating window film or hanging up thick winter curtains is an added way to reduce heat loss.
The Doors
Heat can also be easily lost through open doors. Avoid keeping external doors like patio doors open in winter. It’s worth noting that you can also trap heat in individual rooms by keeping internal doors closed.
As with windows, doors can still let out heat even when closed. Check that there are no gaps below or around the frame that can let in drafts. Weatherstrips and draft excluders are a solution for this. Alternatively, you could consider upgrading any old doors for more insulated options.
Opening a window is the quickest way to let out heat (and let in cold air). In the cold winter months, try to avoid opening windows as much as you can. Extractor fans and trickle vents can be a great way to keep your home ventilated without having to open windows.
Of course, even closed windows can let out heat. It is worth upgrading your windows if they are single-glazed or have damaged frames - double-glazing and good quality frames will massively reduce heat loss. Using insulating window film or hanging up thick winter curtains is an added way to reduce heat loss.
The Doors
Heat can also be easily lost through open doors. Avoid keeping external doors like patio doors open in winter. It’s worth noting that you can also trap heat in individual rooms by keeping internal doors closed.
As with windows, doors can still let out heat even when closed. Check that there are no gaps below or around the frame that can let in drafts. Weatherstrips and draft excluders are a solution for this. Alternatively, you could consider upgrading any old doors for more insulated options.
The Roof
Heat naturally rises and so a lot of heat in homes gets lost through the roof. Damaged roofs are a big source of heat loss - it’s worth periodically getting your roof inspected so that you can carry out roof repair work if necessary.
An undamaged roof can still let out heat if it is poorly insulated. If you have an older property, you may want to consider checking whether there is any insulation in place - you can either insulate the underside of the roof or the floor of your attic to stop heat getting out.
The Walls
Heat can also be lost through the walls of a home. Cracks in walls are the biggest culprits for this - consider whether your home has any cracks in the wall, and whether you should seal these.
Walls with no damage can still let out heat. Adding insulated boards or using cavity wall insulation can help to reduce heat loss.
Heat naturally rises and so a lot of heat in homes gets lost through the roof. Damaged roofs are a big source of heat loss - it’s worth periodically getting your roof inspected so that you can carry out roof repair work if necessary.
An undamaged roof can still let out heat if it is poorly insulated. If you have an older property, you may want to consider checking whether there is any insulation in place - you can either insulate the underside of the roof or the floor of your attic to stop heat getting out.
The Walls
Heat can also be lost through the walls of a home. Cracks in walls are the biggest culprits for this - consider whether your home has any cracks in the wall, and whether you should seal these.
Walls with no damage can still let out heat. Adding insulated boards or using cavity wall insulation can help to reduce heat loss.
The Floor
Heat can also be lost through a home’s floor. This is particularly the case in homes with large crawl spaces and cavities underneath. Underfloor insulation may be a solution to help reduce heat loss through the floor. Make sure to also seal any cracks around your home’s foundations and look into foundation repairs if necessary.
The Pipes
Heat can also escape pipes before it has had a chance to reach taps and radiators. This could result in your boiler working overtime to heat your home.
Insulating pipes can allow heat to reach areas of your home faster so that you don’t have to use as much energy to heat your home. This could be another form of insulation worth looking into.
Heat can also be lost through a home’s floor. This is particularly the case in homes with large crawl spaces and cavities underneath. Underfloor insulation may be a solution to help reduce heat loss through the floor. Make sure to also seal any cracks around your home’s foundations and look into foundation repairs if necessary.
The Pipes
Heat can also escape pipes before it has had a chance to reach taps and radiators. This could result in your boiler working overtime to heat your home.
Insulating pipes can allow heat to reach areas of your home faster so that you don’t have to use as much energy to heat your home. This could be another form of insulation worth looking into.
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