With energy costs reaching record highs, it’s more important than ever for seniors to find ways to keep their homes as warm and energy-efficient as possible. As such, many of us are looking for ways to stay toasty and warm, while improving our home’s energy efficiency.
If this sounds like you, keep reading for some tips to help you to hopefully stay cosy in winter.
Trap The Heat
One of the best ways to ensure that you keep warm in winter is to prevent the heat being generated by your central heating system from escaping through any doors, windows, or apertures. To help retain that vital warmth, draw thick curtains over the windows once the sun has set, and close the doors to any rooms that are not being occupied. This will help to keep the heat concentrated in the rooms that you are using. You can also place draught excluders against all external doors, to prevent the warmth from leaking out and cold air from getting in.
In addition, you should be sure to inspect all of your radiators to make sure they are uncovered. Also, check that no item of furniture is blocking them and preventing the heat from penetrating each room. If you often use your radiators to dry damp or wet clothing or towels, it’s best to stop doing this right away. Not only will you lower their efficiency, but the damp from the clothes could cause black mould to develop on the walls around the radiators, and this can be very harmful to your health.
Replace Old Radiators
Speaking of radiators, if you live in an older property with radiators that are rather advanced in age, they are probably not doing a very efficient job of spreading the heat around your home. As a result, you may want to think about having them replaced with newer and much more effective radiators.
Not only will the replacement radiators heat your home much more efficiently, but they will also be healthier too. This is because newer radiators are equipped with dust filters, which will improve the air quality in your home.
Try A Fan Heater
If you still feel cold even with the central heating on, then a fan heater could be the ideal solution. It can also be an effective way to keep cosy while keeping your central heating off on milder days.
These powerful little portable heaters can easily be unplugged and moved around the home. When angled toward you, they should provide a delicious blast of hot air that will dispel any chills. Thanks to their efficiency and convenience, these heaters make a highly useful additional heating source for seniors.
Check Your Roof For Any Damage
A substantial of your home’s heat can escape through the roof if it is not insulated, and even more so if there is any damage. If you think there may be a problem with your roof tiles, then it’s a good idea to find some experienced roofers near you to pay a visit and see if any repairs are necessary.
Not sure where to find qualified and trustworthy local roofers? Simply post a description of the roofing work you want done on MyBuilder, and you will be able to receive quotes from experienced professionals in the surrounding area who would be happy to take on the job.
While we are still on the subject of the roof, adding loft insulation is another effective way of reducing heat loss. While it will cost money initially, it will be worth the investment as it will make your home more energy-efficient – not to mention a great deal warmer.
Have Your Boiler Serviced
If your central heating system is operated by an oil or gas boiler, it’s important to have the boiler serviced on a regular basis – ideally once a year. Even if it seems to be working effectively, you should still have it checked out, to make sure there are no signs of damage and no build-up of debris.
A well-maintained boiler will last for much longer, and this longevity will help to save you money, as repairing or replacing a boiler can be a very expensive job.
Heat Your Home Strategically
With the cost of heating our homes becoming so high, it’s more important than ever that you only heat your property when you actually need to. For instance, if you’re going to be out all day, rather than keeping the heat on or turning it off altogether, why not set up your heating using a timer? That way, it will only kick in every so often, rather than constantly running and draining your energy reserves – and your bank balance.
By heating your home this way, you will save money, but you will also ensure that the house isn’t freezing cold when you do finally get home. It’s the ideal solution when you’re not going to be at home for a number of hours.
Summing Up
When you get older, it’s more vital than ever to keep yourself warm during the winter months. As you can see, there are a number of tips and tricks you can use that will help to raise the temperature inside your home, while still ensuring that you only pay for as much heating as you actually need.
