OS ways to warm room

jovichick123

Hi all

We live in a 3 bed rental property with the back of the house double glazed but the front single glazed. Our front room is devilishly cold in winter and even when we have the heating on, there is still a draft that comes in through the (very badly decayed) windows. Our landlord refuses to upgrade the rotten frames and we are not in a position to move (although we are looking for somewhere local in our price range).

Just wondered if there are any OS methods of keeping heat in a front room? I am planning on making a 'snake' this weekend to reduce the draft from under the door frame which leads to the front door - any suggestions for the windows? We have curtains which are lined but they are not especially thick

TIA :A

Jovi x

jpscloud

Lots of people recommend the film that you seal on to the windows using a hairdryer but I haven't tried that yet. I have some windows upstairs that are single glazed and you can actually see daylight through the frames! I used masking tape around the edges of the frames last year - the wider roll - and it worked a treat.

fuddle

You could attach fleeces to the back of the curtains or separately on a net wire, just stitch in a hem to thread the wire through.

You could put bubble wrap on the window panes or buy the window film to apply.

If your radiator is on the outer wall, heat maybe escaping through the wall, put a sheet of baking foil behind the radiator to reflect the heat back.

There's a wealth of knowledge on the Preparing for winter threads. Hope to help a little

valk_scot

Hanng a second set of curtains, right up against the glass if possible. You only need lightweight single ones so a very lightweight rail will be enough. Use charity shop curtains or curtain lining or polycotton if you're making them. The gap between the two sets of curtains will provide insulation. Also you can use a combination of small pieces of sticky backed velcro round the edge of the frames and small pieces of corresponding vewlcro stitched to the edge of the outer curtains, to give a tighter fit round the edges. And if the curtains have a gap at the bottom between them and the floor or sill, either replace the curtains with longer ones or add a strip of material to them.

After you've dealt with the windows and front door, btw, close everything up as much as possible then walk around the room(s) with a lighted candle, to find out where any other drafts or cold air currents are. Examples are open but unused chimneys (stop up with a black bin liner stuffed with shredded paper), under the living room door (another draft excluder) and through cracks in floorboards or round the skirting boards. You can use rugs, filler, sealing strips, papier mache made from brown paper and touched up with brown felt pen etc to fill these gaps.

rachbc

seal up the wondow somewhow - with film or tape, add a fleece to curtians or use it closer to the window like a window quilt.

I was amazed at the differnt a fleece made to our draughty kitchen window last year - from ice box to bearable in 30 seconds - I pinned it to the frame with drawing pins!

snowleopard61

Hi, I'm in the process of trying both the window film and radiator foil panels, which I've ordered from Amazon and am awaiting - when I get them up I'll try to post and say how successful they are. I've also ordered a thermal curtain (tried to find something remotely suitable in charity shops but couldn't) for the front door (the one I'm getting is £19.99 - didn't think I could find anything cheaper and unfortunately haven't a sewing machine).

I'm about to block the chimney (which I don't use!!), probably just with a binbag stuffed with carrier bags etc to cut the draughts.

This is actually to warm you rather than the room, but don't underestimate the humble hot water bottle and blanket on the sofa, as well as taking the hottie to bed with you. Of course this only works when you're sitting down, but that's when you're coldest (I have known someone who said he attached one to himself with a belt though!)

foxgloves

I second the humble hot water bottle! In a chunky cover (knit your own!) & wedged between your back & the sofa, it provides more warmth than I would have thought possible. Add a nice fake fur throw, which are turning up cheaply these days on markets & in cheap shops, & it all feels a lot more snuggley against the draughts.

pollypenny

I use tea lights on the hearth, which are reflected by the faux marble backing and give quite a bit of warmth.

RAS

jovichick123 wrote: »

Hi all

We live in a 3 bed rental property with the back of the house double glazed but the front single glazed. Our front room is devilishly cold in winter and even when we have the heating on, there is still a draft that comes in through the (very badly decayed) windows. Our landlord refuses to upgrade the rotten frames and we are not in a position to move (although we are looking for somewhere local in our price range).

Just wondered if there are any OS methods of keeping heat in a front room? I am planning on making a 'snake' this weekend to reduce the draft from under the door frame which leads to the front door - any suggestions for the windows? We have curtains which are lined but they are not especially thick

TIA :A

Jovi x

Is cold air coming in through between the glass and the window frame or between the window frame and the main frame? if you understand what I mean? How rotten is the window?

If the window is sufficiently stable, you can fill the gap between it and the main frame. You might use stick on draught excluder, but I once stuffed an entire shirt (shredded) into the gaps round an old sash window. Stopped it rattling too.

Or use masking tape to cover the gap. Whatever you have to do to stop the cold air getting in.

Hang fine curtains from top to sill close to the window frame. Then hang the normal curtains.

Where is the radiator/heater in the room?

You can make door sausages, or make draught excluders out of strips of carpet folded in two and tacked to the bottom of the door. Check the hall windows as well and try and draught strip the door and windows.

Do you have air vents? Cover them with card and tape them up unless there is a gas heater in the room.

Check the fitting of the loft hatch? Amazing what cold air gets through there.

valk_scot

snowleopard61 wrote: »

I've also ordered a thermal curtain (tried to find something remotely suitable in charity shops but couldn't) for the front door (the one I'm getting is £19.99 - didn't think I could find anything cheaper and unfortunately haven't a sewing machine).

Look for a sewing machine in the local charity shop instead! My local CS gets at least a couple a month, ranging from vintage hand cranked Singers for £5 to modern electric ones, which they don't actually sell, just give away for a donation. (Electric, you see.) Or check out Ebay.

Gracie_1827

Check out your local Freegle...there's often sewing machines on there and old curtains. Stitch fleecy material between curtain and lining.