bright open plan living/dining with white walls and a skylight

Heat your new rural home efficiently

Heat proof your home this winter

Winter took a while to kick into full force but it’s definitely here now! Here are some tips on how to heat proof your home this winter!

  1. This one may seem a little obvious but check your home for drafts. The easiest way to do this is with a stick of incense. Go around to all the windows in your home and places where plumbing and wiring go through walls. If the smoke from the incense begins to drift horizontally you have a draft.
  2. You’d be surprised as to how much heat can escape under a door. If you don’t already try implementing door sweeps which can be found from your local hardware store.
  3. Close the curtains! At night heat can escape through the windows, closing the curtains or shutting the blinds helps to prevent this.
  4. Ensure you have sufficient insulation and window treatments when building your home. This can make a huge difference in summer and winter.
  5. Close off any unused rooms to conserve the heat in the main living areas.
  6. Consider carpet in the bedroom, this will help prevent heat loss through the floor.
  7. Let it shine! To make the most natural sunlight it’s a great idea to open up your blinds and curtains during the day, especially North facing (for the morning sun) and West facing (for the afternoon sun).
  8. Focus on people, not your house! It sounds straightforward, but often it’s easier to warm yourself rather than your whole house. A warm pair of Ugg boots and a snug jumper could save you hundreds in heating and energy bills!
  9. Reverse your ceiling fans. By reversing your fan blades to rotate clockwise you draw down the risen heat from the ceiling and prevent it from dissipating through the roof or walls.
  10. Pour yourself a cup of tea and relax!
bright open plan living/dining with white walls and a skylight

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