Windows
In older homes, windows can be areas of significant heat loss. Loose panes and poor seals create draughts, and in some instances, thinner glass can also be a factor.
Double glazing will greatly improve the thermal efficiency of your windows, and can be easily retrofitted to existing homes, but there are other options available. Check all the seals around your windows and replace any putty that is crumbling. Attend to any gaps that have appeared around the joinery and look for signs of water damage – this means there is moisture getting in where it shouldn’t, causing damp to enter your home.
To help increase the efficiency of your windows, you also need to think about how you dress them. Thermal-lined drapes that are larger than the window area will give you greater thermal efficiency and with the addition of pelmets, will prevent air movement between the glass and the curtain.
Doors
Draughts are most likely to come from your doors. These can be minimised with the addition of brush strips to the inside or an external flap along the outside, and draught seals around the edges. By reducing the air movement into and out of your home, the air you have heated will remain where you want it and not disappear out the door.
Other areas
Heating your hot water is another area that uses a lot of energy. You can improve the efficiency of your hot water cylinder with a simple insulating wrap. As the first metre of pipe from your cylinder is where a lot of heat is lost, by adding lagging to insulate this section of pipe, you increase the efficiency of your hot water cylinder and save on your hot water heating bill.
There are many ways to increase the Energy Efficiency of your house. AbsoluteEnergy can advise you on how to achieve the best results. With the right combination of effective insulation and other energy saving ideas, you can turn your cold and draughty house into a warm, comfortable, energy efficient home.
Contact us for more information on how to achieve AbsoluteEnergy Efficiency for your existing home.