12 Top tips for staying warm this winter

Using these tips, you can stay warm no matter how frightful the cold weather outside gets.

1. Feet up thinking

Around ten per cent of heat loss in an average home comes from the ground floor, and the Energy Saving Trust estimates that you can save £70 a year on energy bills if you insulate the ground floor of a detached house. If you have wooden floorboards, use a flexible silicon-based filler to block small gaps between boards and pop a rug down to prevent draughts. Carpets? Choose an insulating layer such as fibreboard underlay under your floor covering. If you have access below your floorboards and you’re a more competent DIY-er, use netting to hold mineral or wool insulation between joists on suspended timber floors. Don’t forget about ventilation, and if you have any doubts speak to an expert.

2. Heat it

Hit the sweet spot with home heating by using timed room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves. These heating controls not only set your heating and hot water timings, they also allow you to only heat specific areas in your home and set different temperatures in each room, keeping you warmed up and your bills down.

3. Shut out draughts

Doors and windows are often the worst culprits when it comes to letting cold air in. The Energy Trust states that draftproofing cracks and spaces around these areas can save you on average £25 annually, so get to work with some self-adhesive draught-proof strips around casements and fill in any larger cracks with putty or sealant. Bigger gaps at the bottom of doors or letterboxes can be sorted out using brushes or hinged draft excluders. Chimney balloons or a chimney cap are also worth exploring if you don’t use your fireplace. Sound like a job too big? Enlist a local handyman to help.

4. Home Insulation help