It is well and truly winter and with many more cold days in the forecast, you might be looking for new ways to keep warm. What if I told you there was a way to keep your home toasty without raising your heating bill through the roof?
DIY expert Mitch Mclean over at Bunnings has given us some ways to easily winter-proof your home for those cold nights. Plus they’re more sustainable than running a heater night and day.
Here’s what you can do around the house to ensure a warmer home.
Warm your home by sealing windows and doors
Mclean suggests checking that both the inside and outside seals of your windows are in good shape by pushing hard against them while the window is closed.
“An easy way to test this is to use a sheet of paper and try slipping it through the gaps. If the gap is wider than a sheet of paper, it could be letting in cold air.”
On that note, check if your doors and windows have draughts by holding a piece of tissue paper against cracks and gaps. If the paper moves in the breeze you should seal it up.
You can use a rubber seal on your windows or doors to fill gaps – there are a wide range of options available and the one best suited will vary depending on the size of the gap and the type of window or door it is.
Bunnings has a handy guide for sealing windows here.
When it comes to sealing your door, consider a stormproof seal. They help to keep wind and rain out by pushing a flap over your door seal when it shuts. Just make sure you choose the right one for your door.
An alternative to a door seal is to use a door snake. Mclean says they help to trap heat within your home and can be used to isolate individual rooms as well.
“An easy fix for helping keep draughts out of a room is to use a door snake – make sure to pick one that is the right width for your door and consider using a double snake which will help stop draughts on both sides.”
You can even get a door snake that secures easily to your door and stops the draft on both sides, like this one from Amazon.
You can buy the USUKUE Twin Door Draft Stopper ($36.42) from Amazon here.
Add a rug to your space
We all know that cold feet in winter are not a good time and this is particularly an issue for those with hard-surfaced flooring at home.
Mclean suggests purchasing a rug, like the one pictures below, for your space to combat this:
“Hard-surface flooring like timber and tiles look great but can often get cold to walk on in winter. Try laying down a thick rug in spaces like your bedroom and living room for a warmer underfoot feel that also adds style.”
If you need a guide on how to choose the right rug, here’s an expert guide.
You can buy the Giselle Bedding Artiss Floor Rug ($67.90) from Amazon here.
Check the insulation in your roof
If you’re living in a home that never seems to be able to stay warm, it could have something to do with the insulation in your roof.
It’s easy to buy some extra insulation batts from Bunnings and add them to your roof, but it’s worth considering hiring a professional to do it if you’re unsure about proper installation.
A Bunning’s expert can also help you choose the right insulation for your property.
Invest in some block-out curtains for a warmer home
A surprising amount of heat or cold can make its way into a room via the glass of our windows. To combat this you can try installing some block-out curtains as an extra layer.
“[Block-out curtains] can also help you reduce noise and save energy costs. Make sure to choose heavy-weight fabric curtains that fall below your window sill as this will help ensure your window is insulated.”
You can find a range of easy-t0-install block-out curtains on Amazon, like this set from Smarcute that comes in 16 different colourways.
You can buy the Smarcute Blockout Curtains ($38.98) from Amazon here.
Pay attention to your fans
Exhaust fans may be efficient at pumping in the air conditioning but when they’re not in use they can still let that cold air sneak into your house.
Grabbing a Draft Stoppa from Bunnings is one simple way to put an end to this. Mclean suggests adding them to your kitchen and bathroom.
He also has an insightful tip for putting your ceiling fans to good use in winter.
“If you’ve got ceiling fans in your home, they often offer a reverse mode for winter that make them an easy and affordable way to warm a room with minimal energy use. This function works by pushing all the warmer air down which in turn makes the room temperature more comfortable.”
If you have any issues with your winter-proofing or other DIY projects, check out the Bunnings Workshop page where you can tap into a world of advice and tips from the Bunnings community.
If you’re looking for some other ways to reduce your electricity bill in winter, check out these tips.
Stay warm out there!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.