Heating engineer warns of overlooked place where heat is seeping out your home
As the cold snap continues to sweep across the UK, many households are looking for ways to ensure their homes are as warm as can be, without seeing energy bills soar.
As much as you'd like to think your home is properly ventilated, a heating engineer has warned people to check the most overlooked area where heat is seeping out of your home - as it can prove costly.
With temperatures plummeting as low as -10C, Brits need to make sure their homes are properly draught-proofed so the central heating doesn't go to waste. Now Matthew Jenkins, Heating Engineer and Expert at MyJobQuote, has shared the areas in the home that are missed the most.
"If you're turning up the central heating and finding it doesn't stick around for long, there's a problem. Draught proofing is the art of blocking up unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out," Matthew explained, adding that it's the most effective way to save money on bills. "Draughts are uncontrolled, waste a lot of heat and even increase the chance of mould," he added.
One place that's often forgotten about is keyholes and letterboxes. The expert recommends purchasing a keyhole cover and a letterbox draught excluder. He added: "It's also wise to check the rubber seal of the door for any dryness or signs of and give it a clean of any debris while checking. Keeping on top of this reduces the chance of erosion to the rubber seal which could let warm air out if damaged."
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There are other easy ways to draught-proof your home too, including placing foil behind radiators to help prevent heat loss. The pros found that 50 per cent of heat emitted from a radiator is directed at a wall, so placing foil insulation behind the radiator "results in more heat being reflected into the room instead of being lost." Even better, a roll of foil costs less than £2.
Another way to trap heat is with heavy-duty curtains over the draughtiest places. The home expert says that the use of heavy-duty curtains can reduce the cool air coming in as well as stop the warm air from escaping.
As well as curtains, Jenkins says that soft furnishings are also good at retaining heat. "Invest in long door cushions to retain heat. If there are rooms in your home that aren't regularly used in your home, prevent heat from unnecessarily escaping under the door by closing it and placing a long cushion in front of it, ensuring it covers the full gap," he added.
Finally, the last precaution people should take is to make sure there are no gaps in flooring, skirting boards and walls. The pro said: "Gaps and holes in walls aren't only unpleasant to look at, they also hinder your home's insulating ability. Fill them with ready mixed filler and give your flooring and skirting a once over to repair any gaps which may also be contributing to heat loss."
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