Your tips to keep the house warm

kboss2010

GrannyKate wrote: »

Have to agree about the importance of curtains. I draw mine late afternoon before it gets completely dark. Can't understand current trend in programmes like a Grand Designs to have no curtains. We got free loft and cavity wall insulation a few years ago under one of those schemes. Has made a lot of difference particularly to bedrooms in our bungalow - do not get mould on the outside walls anymore. We have carpets in bedrooms but otherwise wooden floors with some rugs. I do not find floors cold really.

Could you convince my OH, please?? We've just moved into a new flat with high ceilings and even though our windows are draughty, he's refusing to put up curtains because he prefers the look of just a wooden blind!! I'm hoping he'll see sense when our winter heating bill goes through the roof.

Lynplatinum

Hiya

All of the above are employed chez Platinum. But also one of the brilliantest things is a wheat bag. Mine is about 15 years old now. It is craftsperson made and consists of a bag about 30cms long and 10 wide loosely filled with wheat and lavender. Popped into the microwave for 3-4 mins it stays warm for ages and placed on the lap under a blanket keeps you toasty for a couple of hours. I have made 2 new ones from the old legs of jeans and some wheat purchased at an independent health food shop. Total coast £3.40!!!

Also have laptop sat on my lap which is generating warmth - not just physical but emotional as I read the friendly and supportive posts on here! :-)

Nite all

babyblooz

I have noticed that during this windy weather I have had a few nasty cold drafts around my feet so decided to investigate. Despite having thick fitted carpet and decent underlay, the cold air was coming from the skirting board area but only in a few spots. I think there are small areas where the cold air was finding its way through small gaps under the actual skirting board possibly due to slight variances in the wooden boards underneath.

I took my palette knife from the kitchen and used it to stuff some paper down under the gap and the difference was immediate.

Whenever we take the carpet up next we will do a proper job but this works for now.

Result!

handylady

I turn the heating down and have invested in an electric throw. It's absolutely amazing, so soft and lightweight and just wonderful to snuggle under. Two of my friends have now also bought one on my recommendation and they too love them.

I also have an electric under blanket that heats up in 5 mins. Well that's what it says but as I don't have any heating upstairs at all, it takes a good 10 to 15 mins but I just couldn't manage without it.

trolleyrun

I live in a fairly small flat. Each room has a radiator but only two work. Luckily I've not had to turn the heating on much yet, but I do keep all doors in the flat open so wherever there's heat it circles around the flat. I tuck the curtains in on the window sill when drawing them. I have a draft excluder by the front door as it fits really badly but I can't afford to get a new one yet. I do use a lot of candles and I lit about 5 earlier when I felt chilly - they work a treat for giving extra warmth. I often snuggle under a fleecy blanket with the dog and I wear several layers of clothing.

Oh how I wish double glazing and insulation was standard in this country!

nyg123

Insulation and curtains as many have said! I love my slanket especially the foot pocket. I also have an electric under blanket. Due to health problems I am often too warm so the best thing for my bills would be for my parents not to visit as my mum is always cold. But that's not going to happen! If you haven't got thermostat's on your radiators get them (I have 2 radiators without them but I'm renting) so you can control the heat in each room if you're not heating one room that could save you money to heat the others! Layering up as others have said and I agree that slipper boots are better - I can be really warm and still have cold feet. And keep doors shut and tackle draughts. The curtain across my front door really helps. Hope you keep cosy.

mrsr

handylady wrote: »

I turn the heating down and have invested in an electric throw. It's absolutely amazing, so soft and lightweight and just wonderful to snuggle under. Two of my friends have now also bought one on my recommendation and they too love them.

I also have an electric under blanket that heats up in 5 mins. Well that's what it says but as I don't have any heating upstairs at all, it takes a good 10 to 15 mins but I just couldn't manage without it.

My daughter treated me to a electric throw it's brilliant ,keeps dogs and me really warm.Also as already mentioned candles make big differance.

Eenymeeny

I know that it sounds daft but sticking masking tape over unused keyholes really help to cut out draughts. I put it on the outside of my back door and can still use the key on the inside. I've heard that a fridge magnet works too but they won't stick on mine...

Ben84

bilbodreams wrote: »

We have the original victorian windows and even though I know they are not very efficient, I really want to keep them.

I have the original 1920s casement windows here. They're well made and look good, but they're not wonderful for energy savings. So we also have secondary glazing. It's about as good as double glazing, but much cheaper to install and won't ever suffer from the broken seals and misting that sealed double pane units do. One of the things double glazing companies don't tell you is that the glass panes leak sooner or later and you'll have to keep replacing all the glass, which is costly. So much for maintenance free.

Anyway, insulation is the big thing we've done here to save energy. Filled the cavity walls and the loft. The house itself is quite well built and doesn't have many drafts, but I did also fill some gaps here and there around pipes and cables and things. Our gas bills are very low, at most these days I put the heating on for an hour in the evening and the heat lasts all night. Probably for the best I don't need to run the boiler much, it's really ancient. But with so little need to use it, there's not much point spending thousands replacing it. The inefficiency of old boilers is also I think commonly exaggerated. We do also cook every day, so get heat from the gas cooker, and there's a little from electrical appliances and light bulbs. With good insulation these little bits add up and go further.

Suffolk_lass

You could try putting aluminium foil behind your radiators to reflect the heat out and stop the back of the radiator heating the wall behind it unnecessarily.

I have a wood-burning stove and we forage scrap untreated wood for that and make natural firelighters from dried citrus peel (dried on the top of the wood burner , or when the oven is cooling down) and by chopping off the fronds of the Christmas Tree (real, obviously) and storing these dried out for the next winter. Both contain lots of oil to get the fire going. With some twisted newspaper to initially light it, this is pretty marvellous, and smells a lot nicer than commercial firelighters

Oh yes, and I have a 10w convector heater in the bathroom so that is toasty warm when I want to have a shower or bath and the heating is not on.

SL