KEEPING WARM – ENERGY SAVING

Keep the heat on

Our customers tell us that it costs just the same amount to keep the heating on all day as it does to keep turning it on and off.

This may well be true, for once the home is brought up to temperature the fabric of the building such as the walls, and even the furniture start to warm up and retain the heat.

So, if you are at home every day, or even if you are only home in the evening, leave the heating on and set the room thermostat just down a bit when you go out. The home will not need so much heating when you need it.

Severe Weather

In recent years winters have been milder and to save on installation costs heating systems have been designed to work with an outside temperature of  +1 °C.

If daytime temperatures fall below freezing the home will get cold if the heating is not kept on.

Turn the boiler thermostat up the maximum setting and keep the room thermostat up to keep the home warm. Once the temperature drops it is hard to raise the temperature again.

If you live in a house, keep the upstairs doors closed, this will help to prevent all the heat rising to upstairs and will keep the draughts out.

When you draw the curtains lift them up onto the sill to prevent the heat escaping from under the curtain, it will also help to prevent draughts. But beware of the curtains getting wet due to condensation, which may lie on the sill.

If weather is extremely cold you may be able to make up a type of double-glazing by using “cling film” across the panes. Pack other drafts in by using newspaper. Do not block off any vent that is used by any gas appliance though, because this may cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Reflect the Heat.

Aluminium foil placed or stuck behind radiators does not look very attractive, but it reflects the heat away from the wall. It was all the rage a few years ago, but is not so popular now. We are not sure if it works.

Shelves over the radiator appear to prevent the heat from coming out.

Avoid if possible putting large items such as the settee next to a radiator, it also upsets the working of a thermostatic radiator valve.

I once knew someone who had a large mirror and positioned it so it shone into the room. It did not work very well because he had to go outside every so often to move it around!

Block up a Chimney.

If you have an unused chimney a lot of heat is lost up it.  Block up the chimney by using newspaper or an old pillow. Don’t forget to unblock it if you have a fire or you will be in a mess!