We’re approaching the winter months at the time of writing so it might be that your home is currently colder than normal.
Now is the time to make sure your home is cozy and warm, not only because you will be protected from winter colds and other viruses but because you will protect your home from the winter months too.
If your home is cold, you should find out the reason why. The answer might be obvious if you haven’t turned the heating on but if your home’s temperature is far lower than it should be, despite cranking up the thermostat, you need to work out what the problem might be.
Are these the reasons why your home is so cold?
#1: Cold air is leaking inside your property
Imagine the scene. You’re sat on your sofa with a cup of warm tea and a nice warm fire blazing away in front of you. You should be warm and toasty, right? Well, yes, in theory, but if you can feel a cool draft from somewhere in your home, you won’t be as comfortable as you should be.
Therefore, you should find out where these drafts are coming from. The usual culprits will be the gaps around your doors and windows so you should seal these where possible. If there are any cracks in your window or door frames, you should fill these with polyurethane caulk or install weatherstripping.
If there is a draft coming from beneath any of your exit doors, you should cover these with a door sweep or any other kind of draft stopper that you can buy in your local store or online.
#2: Heat is escaping your home
When you turn the heating on, you want the heat to stay in your home. But if it packs its bags and makes a quick exit, your home will never be as warm as you want it to be.
So, how does the heat escape from your home? A common cause is open doors and windows so you should make sure these are all shut securely before you turn on your heating. As mentioned above, you should also check for any draft spots as they will let the heat escape if they aren’t sealed properly.
Heat can also escape through your roof if your attic isn’t insulated and it can escape through your walls too if they aren’t insulated properly. As such, you might need to pay for a loft or wall insulation to prevent heat from escaping as you will save money in the long run, despite the short-term cost.
Your windows can also be a problem if the woodwork around them has degraded or if they aren’t energy-efficient.
If your windows do need replacing, you should switch them out with a window containing triple or double-pane glass. Check out the superior quality replacement windows at Renewal by Anderson, for example, such as their energy-efficient double-hung windows that are built to withstand the chilly winter months.
These are just some of the reasons why heat can escape but if you need more advice, consult with an energy professional or builder to find out why your home is losing heat.
#3: Your air vents and radiators are blocked
If your air vents and radiators are blocked, you will obviously have a colder house as a consequence as heat won’t circulate around your home.
Therefore, make sure there is no furniture, curtains, or other forms of décor causing a blockage. If they are in the way of your vents and radiators, remove them and find other places for them in your house where they won’t cause a major problem.
By removing blockages, you won’t only warm up your house. You will also protect your home from fire hazards, such as those furnishings that are not classed as fire-resistant.
#4: Your heating systems are inefficient
Your boiler, gas fire, and other types of heating system may have been efficient when you first bought them, but if you haven’t had them serviced for a long time, it might be that they aren’t operating as they should.
Your boiler might have a leak, for example, and the vents in your gas fire could be blocked. If your radiators are cold, this could be a consequence of a broken boiler but it might be that there is a build-up of sludge in your radiators that is preventing them from heating up properly.
If you suspect there might be problems such as these, you will need to call out a professional to fix your heating systems. Again, there will be a cost but for the sake of a warmer home (and a safer home in the case of a faulty gas fire), the expense will be more than worth it.
#5: You have wooden floors
Many people opt for wooden floors, not only because they can sometimes be aesthetically pleasing but because they are easier to clean than carpeted floors.
Unfortunately, wooden floors can also be the reason why your home is losing heat as wood isn’t as well insulated as carpeting. You have several choices if you do have wooden floors. You could cover them with carpet or you could lay down more rugs around your home to retain a little bit more heat.
Alternatively, you could pay for underfloor heating and insulation. Your feet will then be warmer when you’re walking around the house on a chilly day and you will stop heat from escaping into the floor beneath you. Your energy bills will be a lot lower too so think of the long-term savings you will make if you opt for floor insulation.
Finally
Are these the reasons why your home is so cold? If so, consider the suggestions we have given here and take the relevant next steps. You will then feel warmer and more comfortable at home, and no matter how cold it is outside, you won’t have to worry about the winter chill when you’re curled up on your sofa.
Kori
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