Best Way to Kerp House Warm in Winter
Australian houses accept been called "glorified tents" for their inability to stay absurd in summer and warm in winter. Is yours 1 of them?
There's no demand to freeze this winter: hither are a few small-scale changes you can brand to make your habitation warmer and more energy-efficient to keep your heating costs downwards.
If y'all don't have ceiling insulation, expect to BYO blanket.
i. Insulate
In winter, 25–35% of an uninsulated home's warmth is lost through the roof. Insulation will continue your business firm warm in winter, simply it'll also proceed your dwelling cool in summer, and then it's worth the investment.If yous're going to spend coin on heating and air conditioning, you might as well brand it equally price-effective as possible by insulating your domicile.
"Average households that install wall, floor and ceiling insulation can salvage hundreds of dollars on energy costs each year," says Chris Barnes, CHOICE's dwelling-heating expert.
"Insulation is best installed when building or renovating, but can exist retrofitted to an existing abode. This is all-time done by professionals, though ceiling and underfloor insulation can often be done past a capable habitation handyperson."
To keep the heat in, ceiling insulation in particular is a no-brainer. You can DIY information technology, but at that place are some things you lot need to know before yous accept a crack at it.
Average households that install wall, flooring and ceiling insulation tin can save hundreds of dollars on energy costs each twelvemonth
Chris Barnes, Option dwelling house-heating proficient
"DIY insulation is a messy, hot and uncomfortable job but I saved myself over a thousand dollars doing my house myself," says CHOICE staffer and insulation enthusiast Ashley Iredale.
"Y'all demand to be very careful if yous DIY this because you need to leave clearances for lite fittings and take electrical wiring into account. Remember that in that location have been a few deaths and fires as a result of work past unqualified installers, and so there are some not insignificant risks associated with it."
2. Go with the menstruum
Be aware of how the hot air moves effectually your firm. It'southward tempting to move the sofa as close as possible to the heater, or to put your wet laundry in front of it during a rainy week, but this will restrict the flow of hot air effectually your house. To ensure you lot get the most out of your heat source, make sure nothing is blocking the flow.
To make your heating more than efficient, close doors to rooms you're not using. Only heating the rooms y'all're actually in will reduce your heating nib – there's no point heating the spare room if no-one's in there.
three. Magic carpeting
If you accept difficult floors, carpeting upwards – literally. Any altitude that you tin can put between the cold flooring and your tootsies will make a difference, and then consider covering hard floors with rugs.
4. It'south curtains for cold
Curtains will assistance you go on warm in winter, but cool in summertime. Upwardly to 40% of heating energy tin be lost through windows, so pull the curtains closed to keep the warmth in. For maximum insulation, adding a pelmet volition stop the warm air escaping through the summit of the windows.
"If you want to take things to the side by side level, double glazing is the Rolls Royce of heat loss reduction, but it's a major chore," says Ashley.
5. Seal it up
Track downwards any draughts in your domicile, particularly around doors and windows, and seal them upwards. Most of the products you lot'll need to do this tin can be picked upwardly at a hardware store, only do your homework before you first shopping or get some advice.
Sorting out draughts and gaps in your business firm will make your heating system more than efficient.
Products that can make a difference include:
- Door snakes
- Weather seal record
- Silicon sealant or caulk
- Roller door seals
- PVC door strips
- Storm-proof seals
- Brush door seals
- Auto-lift door seals.
If you're renting or you're not confident in your DIY abilities, weather seal tape or draught strips are a good place to start. They wait a scrap similar gluey tape, but are made from foam or rubber with an adhesive bankroll.
To install, just remove the backing and stick the adhesive side inside the doorjamb or window frame. It's a good idea to measure upwardly before yous hit the shops – each door will need about 5m of tape to seal.
If y'all have a chimney, install a damper that can be closed when the fire is off, or a chimney airship when it's not in use.
six. Plough back time (... and your fans)
When you lot change your clocks at the end of daylight saving, turn your ceiling fans on reverse (about models have a reverse switch). This makes the blades turn anti-clockwise and, since warm air rises, it'll push button the warm air from your heating system dorsum down towards the floor.
Thinking of installing ceiling fans? Check our ceiling fan reviews earlier you lot buy.
Safety first: 3 heating no-nos
Some heating techniques are a bad idea, but some tin can be downright lethal when used indoors.
- Rut beads or BBQ briquettes give off carbon monoxide as they fire, so shouldn't be used indoors.
- Indoor gas heaters, particularly unflued gas heaters, must not be used in pocket-size rooms such as bedrooms due to the emissions they give off.
- Never use outdoor gas heaters indoors, and don't employ gas stoves or cooktops equally heaters – they aren't intended for information technology and requite off too much carbon monoxide (they don't have the same filters as indoor gas heaters).
Source: https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/heating/home-heating/articles/how-to-keep-warm-this-australian-winter-170915
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