Why is your house so cold? Common culprits exposed

Winter is typically a pretty cold time of year for Brits with snow, rain and storms commonplace. Temperatures regularly hover around freezing for weeks at a time meaning homeowners need to find ways to keep the cold out.

Certain factors pop up regularly when looking at cold homes. Here are some of the most common culprits for letting the cold in so you can assess your home properly.

Poor insulation

Insulation in your walls, ceilings or floors works incredibly well for keeping the heat trapped in and the cold outside. Having inadequate or no insulation can lead to a lot of heat escaping, leading to a cold home and larger energy bills.

If you have access to the survey from when you purchased the heat, take a look and see what the surveyor says about your insulation. Usually, it will note if lost insulation is present, for example. However, you should still get a professional assessment if you think there is an issue or improvements can be made.

Draughty windows and doors

There is nothing worse than sitting down in the evening and feeling a breeze from a draughty window on your neck. There are some home remedies you can employ to block the gaps temporarily such as draught-sealing tape. Hanging thick, heavy curtains and keeping them closed can also be a good solution for chilly nights. 

Remember that anything that connects to your home should be well insulated too. The door between a garage and your home, for example, should be well-sealed. Garage doors also need to be looked at for gaps, using easier closures such as roller garage doors can help prevent any unnecessary cold air from getting in.

Fireplace and chimney draughts

It isn’t only windows and doors that can cause draughts in your home. Fireplaces and chimneys can become cold air tunnels if they aren’t properly sealed, leading to cold air flooding your home.

If you enjoy having a roaring fire occasionally, you can reduce draughts by simply placing a cover over the front of the fireplace when it isn’t in use. You can also look into special draught excluders that look like balloons which can be inserted into your chimney when not in use. Remember to remove them when you light a fire to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Inefficient heating system

Heating systems will have to work extra hard to fight against draughts and poor insulation, so it is important that your system is working as efficiently as possible.

It is recommended that you get your boiler serviced annually. Try to get this booked in the autumnal months as you can avoid winter emergencies plus allow time for repairs if needed.

Another part of a functional heating system is working radiators. If you feel any cold patches near the top of the radiators it is time to bleed them. Check them regularly to ensure as much heat as possible is released into your home.

Utilising modern features such as smart thermostats will help your home maintain a reasonable temperature. This means it will turn off once your set temperature is met, meaning you aren’t wasting heating and therefore money.