Meet the polygamists of the Bible
If you are not using a given room in your home, it is best practice to turn off the radiators and shut the door.
In order to preserve as much heat as possible, it is also a good idea to shut the curtains in your home during the cooler parts of the day.
You may prefer to use caulk to fill in the gaps that cause draughts. Caulk is a product that you buy as a paste, and it hardens in the gaps and seals them.
By extension, it is also a good idea to shut the door of whichever room you are occupying. This will keep the heat in, especially if you make use of that new draught excluder.
Just as with window strips, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using caulk to prevent draughts.
During the day when it’s sunny, leaving the curtains open can be a good way to warm a room without having to turn on the heating.
During the night, however, it is important to close the curtains and shut the blinds. This will add another layer of insulation.
You may also find that you have draughts coming through your windows. To check, hold a candle up to the edge of the window, and see if the flame flickers.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a draught excluder–a stuffed pair of jeans with the ends sewn together will do the job perfectly.
You can minimize the draught coming through a window by simply applying an excluder strip to the frame. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
A good first step when it comes to keeping your home warm is to get rid of draughts. If you have gaps between your doors and the floor, try filling them with an excluder.
The heat in your home can escape into these rooms, and there is no point in heating them if no one is occupying them.
Finally, to really make sure that your energy bill goes down, you could reduce the setting on your thermostat by one or two degrees.
A heat reflector is another good option. These are placed behind the radiator and reflect heat into the room, creating more warmth.
Some people believe that the most effective way to heat a home is to keep the heating on at a low level all day. However, this isn’t a good option for money saving.
If you follow the rest of these heat-saving tips, you may not even notice the difference, and your monthly bill could go down by as much as 10%.
Sources: (Confused.com) (Boundless)
See also: The surprising benefits of cold weather
If you spend a lot of time at home, for example if you work at home, take notice of the times of day that you most need the heating on. Usually, it's first thing in the morning and the evening.
If you are unable to move whatever piece of furniture is blocking the radiator, you could consider a radiator fan. A radiator fan sits on top of the radiator and starts up when the heating goes on.
If you have a sofa or another piece of furniture in front of your radiator, move it away. This will allow the heat to circulate more effectively in the room.
For instructions on how to bleed your radiator (releasing bubbles of trapped air), you can easily find that through an online search. Fear not: it’s not as complicated as it sounds.
When it comes to your radiators, it's important to make sure they are working as efficiently as possible. If your radiator is making a funny noise, or it’s only warm in places, it may need bleeding.
If you (understandably) don’t want to spend a lot of money on a new rug, you could check out secondhand sites like eBay for a more affordable option.
Bearing in mind that some homes lose heat through their tiles and floorboards, you could invest in a rug to help keep some of the heat in.
As the oven cools, it will give off heat and help you warm your home.
If you use the oven to make your dinner, open the oven door and leave it open for a while as it is cooling down.
Bear in mind that cooking creates heat, and that it is sensible to wait until you have cooked before making any decision to turn on the heating.
It is much better to put the heating on as you need it. Set a timer for 30 minutes before you need the heating on, since this is how long it usually takes to heat up.
With cold weather on the horizon and energy prices through the roof, many people are worried about keeping warm this chilly season. Indeed, it can be difficult to heat your home, especially if it is large and/or old. However, there are steps you can take to weatherproof your home, no matter its age or condition. And you don't have to break the bank either!
Curious? Check out this gallery to learn more.
Low-cost heating hacks that actually work
Save on your energy bill this chilly season
LIFESTYLE Money
With cold weather on the horizon and energy prices through the roof, many people are worried about keeping warm this chilly season. Indeed, it can be difficult to heat your home, especially if it is large and/or old. However, there are steps you can take to weatherproof your home, no matter its age or condition. And you don't have to break the bank either!
Curious? Check out this gallery to learn more.