London always loses its mind a little when it gets the slightest bit of snowfall, but sub-zero temperatures are nothing to sneeze at.
With energy bills rising (again) and a cost of living crisis, it can be tempting to turn down the heating and put on another jumper; but this can have serious consequences for the health of you and your home.
Government guidelines recommend that indoor temperatures should be kept between 18 and 21 degrees to pose minimal risk to your health.
Keeping your bedroom at 18 degrees is also the ideal temperature for a good night’s sleep.
If the temperature drops below freezing, you run the risk of your pipes freezing. Water in a pipe can turn to ice in as little as six hours, risking an expensive plumber call or worse, a flood.
Whether you own or rent, here are quick fixes and longer-term (eco-friendly) solutions to keep your home warm.
Block these drafts
Fans of the German art of air-conditioning the home may protest, but now is the time to make sure your home is tightly sealed. Don’t let the cold wind get in from the nooks and crannies, advises real estate expert and TV presenter Kunle Barker.
“If you’re renting or renovating your home, don’t despair. There are still things you can do,” he says. The average house in the UK can lose up to 30 per cent of its heat due to drafts. Barker says one clue to locating an offending window or door is to run a wet hand around the edges.
“If you don’t have double glazing, repair the second window tint.”
You can then place a draft blocker or use tape to seal the gap over the offending area. B&Q sells self-adhesive draft exclusion tape for £4.79 for 5.5 meters – that’s 80p per metre.
“If you don’t have double glazing, repair the second window film,” says interiors expert Johanna Thornhill. “Thermal coating for windows can work wonders by stopping the cold and reducing outside noise.” Thornhill also recommends checking your floorboards for gaps and, if you’re a thrifty homeowner or a tenant with a tolerant landlord, caulk them with “a mixture of simple sawdust and flexible wood glue such as PVA.”
Ruth Bloomfield warns that an unused chimney can also suck all the nice warm air out of your home.
“Consumer group Which? recommends using a special inflatable balloon designed to plug unused open chimneys,” he recommends.
Grab a space heater bargain
Don’t let your pipes freeze unless you let the house get too cold (see below), a space heater is just a cost-effective way to heat the room you’re in.
They’re available in all shapes and sizes, so stock up on the space you’re trying to heat before clicking add to cart.
“If your home has an open-plan design, you’ll need something with more firepower to heat the air quickly,” says Abha Shah of the Evening Standard.
“If your home has an open-plan design, you’ll need something with more firepower.”
“A tower heater can phase the temperature down to medium and low and is an inconspicuous design that sits in the corner. Bladeless versions operate with such a whispering sound you won’t even remember they’re working.”
“There are also floor heaters equipped with timer functions so you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving them on all night.”
Here are some of the best heaters on the market right now.
Prevent pipes from freezing
It may sound counterintuitive, but if you’re in a pinch on the coldest days, leaving your cold tap open a little bit will prevent it from freezing.
With a little advance preparation, you can purchase a few jackets for your pipes from a DIY store.
If the pipes are indoors but inside a closet, open the doors to allow hot air to reach them.
Signs to look out for with a frozen pipe are reduced water flow from your faucets, and if you can see the offending pipes, a visible bulge or layer of frost indicates there may be a problem.
This is a good point to call a plumber, but if you want to work your way out yourself the most important thing is to check that your pipes haven’t burst.
If they are still intact, carefully apply heat to the pipes using a hot towel or hair dryer while keeping the faucet running.
Upgrade your insulation
All of the above are short-term solutions, but if you want to prepare for the next cold spell, insulation is something homeowners should consider.
Barker says keeping warmth inside and outside your home will reduce your energy bills.
“If you’re renovating your home, upgrading your insulation is a great way to keep your energy costs low. This will future-proof your home,” he says.
“The average three-bedroom, semi-detached house will cost between £8,500 and £15,000 for external insulation, with internal insulation for between £5,000 and £7,000.”
Barker says you should prioritize this before investing in an open-source heat pump, but you’ll save even more money in the long run if you do.
“Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes and require one-third the energy to operate compared to gas boilers.” Additionally, reducing your energy consumption means reducing your carbon emissions and therefore contributing less to the climate crisis; this contributes to climate change. first of all all these weird extreme weather conditions.