Getting your home ready for a cold winter begins as soon as summer begins. You can begin putting some money aside to offset the costs that are guaranteed to rise. However, if money is an issue, there are some other ideal ways to ensure your house stays as warm as needed.
Give the House an Expert Check
There are tons of things that can go wrong during winter. You have probably already experienced the dreaded winter boiler breakdown! Never happens when it’s warm! Boiler problems aside, there are plenty of nasty issues you really don’t want when it’s freezing. Fortunately, experts such as Butler Plumbing can give your pipes and plumbing the once over. Getting these checks done before winter kicks in can save time, money and headaches later on!
In addition to maintaining your plumbing, optimizing your home’s heating layout can also help mitigate winter woes. When space is limited, considering alternative radiator designs can be beneficial. For instance, vertical radiators offer a sleek, space-saving solution for narrow hallways, small bathrooms, or cozy living areas, allowing for efficient warmth without sacrificing valuable floor space. By combining proactive plumbing checks with thoughtful heating design choices, you can better equip your home to withstand the challenges of winter.
Seal the Indoor Gaps
Getting experts to look at the more complex parts of the house is a powerful way to almost guarantee there will be no major problems. But there are some smaller things inside your house that you can check too. One of the biggest contributors to a cold home is the tiny gaps where heat escapes and cold air comes in. These are usually found around the windows and doors. But you can also have cracks in the ceiling. Get these filled in and you will feel the difference!
Get Ready for a Cold Winter with Thermals
There is a saying, “heat the human, not the home”. It can be hard to agree with this when it’s -1 outside, and the kitchen has become a walk-in fridge! However, there is some logic to this. We generally use one room most of the time, and we hardly move. So, winter accessories can keep you warm and save a lot of money. Products such as thermal socks, robes and layered fleece jackets work very well. Some people also find electric blankets to be enough to stay warm.
Set the Thermostat Properly
A lot of people don’t use the thermostat correctly. Just setting it to the highest temperature when you feel cold isn’t the right way. This is an extreme waste of energy and money. Set the permanent temperature to 21°C or 22°C to stay comfortably warm, and leave the heating on. This won’t waste money as the radiators only come on when needed, and they will maintain the temperature you set. It also means they don’t have to keep warming the water from scratch!
Give the Radiators Some Help
Some things can prevent radiators from working as they should. For example, placing furniture in front of them, such as radiator covers, blocks their efficiency. Additionally, they also need a pressure reset every now and then. And, of course, radiator bleeding resets the water levels. But when it’s extremely cold, radiators can struggle to meet thermostat settings, so boost the heat with a small electric heart to help them along, and consider setting it to 1 degree less.
Summary
Having experts such as plumbers check your house can get your home ready for a colder than usual winter. Taking care of personal heat with thermal clothing and products can reduce how much energy you use. And don’t forget to keep up with required radiator maintenance.
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