Does your house get cold in the winter? The usual suggestions to keep your house warmer, such as adding insulation, double-glazing, or a new boiler, are all very expensive. If you’re on a stricter budget you don’t have to just put up with the cold at home though. Here are some wallet-friendly ways to stay warm this winter, some of which can also improve your carbon footprint.
Use Tin Foil
One way to stop your radiators from losing heat, especially the ones that are on walls shared with outside, is to place heat-reflecting foil behind the radiators. The foil stops the heat from escaping through the wall and will reflect it back into the room instead. Foil specifically designed to do this isn’t very expensive, but you can also make do with good quality kitchen foil, although it won’t do quite as good a job. Make your heating even more efficient and cheap to run by keeping up with repairs, with the best quality parts you can afford, like a propane orifice.
Hang Thick Curtains
Thick curtains are a simple way to keep heat in and not escaping out of the window. Curtains with a thermal lining are a reasonably cheap option. The thicker the curtain you hang, the better a job it will do. To save more money, you don’t have to replace all your curtains. Instead, you can line your existing ones with something cheap but warm, like fleece. Some people even use shower curtains.
Hang a heavy curtain in front of any doors that lead to outside to keep more heat in. For a cheap solution, you can pin an old rug over the back of the door.
Let Sunlight In
Keep your curtains open during the day to let the sun in. Sunlight gives natural, and free, heat, so you should make the most of it when you are able to. As soon as it starts to get dark, close the curtains to trap in all that heat you secured during the day.
Fake Double Glazing
Double glazing is heat-efficient, but it’s usually expensive. If you can afford it, it’s by far the best option.
If you really can’t afford new double-glazed windows, you can fake them. Single-glazed windows can be covered with a film that mimics the effect of double-glazing, although it won’t be quite as effective. Use double-sided tape to attach the film to your window frame, and fix it in place with a hairdryer. Remember that if you open the window, the seal will be broken The film is cheap, so it can be replaced a few times without hurting your wallet too much. As an alternative, you can fit self-adhesive foam strips to seal any gaps in the edges of your windows. Metal or plastic strips with brushes or wipers attached are more expensive, but they will last longer than cheaper alternatives. You can also use these strips around the hinges and frames of your doors like a draught excluder.
