Even if you love the look of sweeping timber floorboards, or polished concrete flooring, adding a rug to your living space in the cooler months will insulate you against the cold and aid the retention of warmth in your rooms, particularly with floorboards which, in older home tend to be gappy. You can DIY it, but there are some things you need to know before you have a crack at it. If you have an unflued gas heater you will need to keep some form of ventilation for oxygen flow and check the advice for your heater with an accredited technician. If you do not have the time or energy to insulate the whole house, she says the priority is the ceiling first, then the walls, then the floors. Gaps around windows and under door openings can contribute enormously to the loss of warm air created by your heating source, causing it to work harder to maintain a constant temperature. Inviting the sun’s warming rays into your home is essentially free heating. Insulation will … Some heating techniques are a bad idea, but some can be downright lethal when used indoors. If you have hard floors, rug up – literally. If you can't afford it, why not fake it? Every gap of insulation makes a difference according to Ms Fejer — a 5 per cent gap in insulation will mean a 50 per cent reduction in its effectiveness. To install, just remove the backing and stick the adhesive side inside the doorjamb or window frame. So, how can we make our houses warmer without pumping out more electricity, gas or wood smoke? Ms Fejer said window coverings are also important because they will also insulate the glass from the inside. Don’t be tempted to knock it up when you’re feeling chilly – move around more, close a door or rug up yourself (see #4 above) or your space (see #9 below). Replace bathroom exhaust vent switches with timer switches so vents can't be left on by accident. (They don't have the same filters as indoor gas heaters). Donning a trackie doesn’t really cut it though - wool is a great insulator against cold and worn against the skin is less bulky than jackets or layers on top that restrict physical movement. how to keep warm this australian winter 170915, How to buy the best heating system for your home. It's a good idea to measure up before you hit the shops – each door will need around 5m of tape to seal. A sofa place directly in front of a heat source will block the flow and, in some cases, overheat the appliance. Further than simply plugging in an appliance however, depending on the size of your home and your energy source, economical heating of your home can be achieved with a number of simple measures. Track down any draughts in your home, particularly around doors and windows, and seal them up. "The difference is remarkable in the heat you can keep in the house," Ms Fejer said. If you have a wood heater, ensure it complies with the Australian Standard (AS/NZA 4013:1999). We at CHOICE acknowledge the Gadigal people, the traditional custodians of this land on which we work, and pay our respects to the First Nations people of this country.
Socks and slippers on concrete of timber floors are a must too. Double or triple glazing is an effective fix because it traps air between panes of glass, but it is expensive. Using space heaters or a zoned natural gas heating system is the most efficient and cost effective way to heat your home. Install a chimney balloon. Up to 40% of heating energy can be lost through windows, so pull the drapes closed to keep the warmth in. How to buy the best heating system for your home.
"A single pane of glass can lose almost 10 times as much heat as the same area of insulated wall," he said. Not just for decoration, drawing curtains and pulling down blinds across your windows traps in warm area and stops the flow of cool air into your home through glass panels. Is yours one of them? "The technology has improved, you can get a double-sided door snake that moves with the door," she said.
To keep the heat in, ceiling insulation in particular is a no-brainer. She suggested getting foam tape to stick around the door edge. Setting a timer to switch off your heating at night is also a good practice – it might highlight energy wastage heating a whole living area for late night channel surfing, when you could be snuggled in bed with a good book! She says cold air seeps in through more holes than we might think. She said, overall, wool batts are the best because they are a natural fibre but different products work better for hot or cold areas. "It could be a simple as putting a bamboo blind on a pulley system on the outside of the window and just dropping it down over the summer," she said. CHOICE supports the First Nations people's Uluru Statement from the Heart.
"Average households that install wall, floor and ceiling insulation can save hundreds of dollars on energy bills each year," says Chris Barnes, CHOICE's home heating expert. Read more: Whether it’s central heating or a freestanding unit in your home, set a timer for optimum performance. "If you want to take things to the next level, double glazing is the Rolls Royce of heat loss reduction, but it's a major job," says Ashley. For maximum efficiency a lower temperature is required for bedrooms (where you’re already snuggled under layers) than in your living areas.
Use your curtains Not just for decoration, drawing curtains and pulling down blinds across your windows traps in warm area and stops the flow of cool air into your home through glass panels. To make your heating more efficient, close doors to rooms you're not using. "DIY insulation is a messy, hot and uncomfortable job but I saved myself over a thousand dollars doing my house myself," says CHOICE staffer and insulation enthusiast Ashley Iredale. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Curtains will help you keep warm in winter, but cool in summer. Tips to stay warm in winter, 'Whole lot of stupid actions' led to Juukan Gorge destruction, says former Rio Tinto executive, 'I don't care': Man who bashed pregnant woman shows no remorse in court, Royal commission finds faults in aged care coronavirus response, Council prepares to 'turn Melbourne back on' with major overhaul to outdoor dining precincts, PM takes a billion-dollar punt on manufacturing to salvage economy, Live: Power take on Cats for spot in AFL preliminary finals, Alexei Navalny blames Vladimir Putin for poisoning, vows to return to Russia, New rules flagged for round two after 'worst presidential debate ever', 'Grossly derelict' doctor who woke patients up mid-surgery stripped of medical licence, Why the true number of coronavirus deaths is likely almost double the official toll, 'Kick in the guts': Wage increase for 400,000 public servants in NSW slashed, Manu was working in a commercial laundry when her boss discovered she had a double masters degree, 'We have higher incomes': Premier says desire for WA tourist dollars driving anti-border push, Wesley is being sued for a bad review about a Thailand hotel. Ideally set your thermostat for 19 degrees Celsius, but never above 21 degrees. While drafts are bad for heat loss, Mr Floury said windows are the worst insulators in our houses. Use your curtains. If trying to keep the cool in and the hot summer heat out, though, Ms Fejer said you are better off putting a blind on the outside of the window to stop the heat from hitting the glass at all. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), Making your home's temperature just right, 26 | Hot house, cold house, green house, your house, How the coronavirus lockdown will drive up electricity costs for households, Finding the right heater for your home and budget, Are you really cold? Make sure bathroom fans/vents have baffles/draft blockers on the outside so you don't have cold air blowing back into... 3. "The technology has improved, you can get a double-sided door snake that moves with the door.
"There's … "You need to be very careful if you DIY this because you need to leave clearances for light fittings and take electrical wiring into account. Be aware of how the hot air moves around your house. It’s no good spending thousands on triple glazing and loft insulation if you …
"Look for gaps, listen for air whistling and feel for air moving," Mr Floury said.
"When the door closes it sounds like you are going into a hermetically sealed space ship," she said. Once a room is fully sealed, the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from heaters increases dramatically. Any distance that you can put between the cold floor and your tootsies will make a difference, so consider covering hard floors with rugs. Allowing ample space for good air circulation. What's the cheapest way to heat your home this winter? If you have a chimney, install a damper that can be closed when the fire is off, or a chimney balloon when it's not in use. NSW Health recommends purchasing a flued gas heater or an electric heater to avoid CO build up, and to get that heater serviced regularly to ensure it does not off-gas. "It even comes through plumbing outlets and through electrical plugs," she said. When you change your clocks at the end of daylight saving, turn your ceiling fans on reverse (most models have a reverse switch). The rays will help warm you up even on the coldest days. They look a bit like sticky tape, but are made from foam or rubber with an adhesive backing. Thinking of installing ceiling fans?