Energy Saving Tips 3

Ventilation in your home is vital to replace moist, stale air with fresh clean air. The problem many face is that excessive and uncontrolled ventilation accounts for heat loss.

The trick is to control the passage of air so that it is just enough to meet the ventilation needs and has an efficient route through the house.

First block up all sources of unwanted draughts, then consider how to add ventilation that you can control as you need it. Basic draught-proofing will cost around £20 and pay back in under a year.

Don't go with the flow

Easy ways to stop the draughts:

• Chimneys - stuff unused chimneys with newspaper, Rockwool or other such material.
• As the days get chillier, closing your curtains at dusk will stop cold draughts coming down into the room.
• Warm air rises - look up and check that your loft door isn't leaking air to the loft space. Seal the edge of the door with self adhesive foam strip.
• Close doors to the stairway or upstairs - halting the rise of heat through the home will keep your downstairs rooms warmer.
• Check for holes around pipework passing through the top floor ceiling into the loft. Fill with foam and mastic.
• The traditional Door Snake; a fun sewing project for kids!

Windows and Doors:

Check your letterbox, windows and doors for cracks and gaps. This might be easier on a windy day. You can buy brushed strip and other self-adhesive devices to help.

Even double-glazed windows and doors can leak air if the hinges are worn or seals perished. Self adhesive foam strip and sheet is widely available.

Secondary seasonal insulation provides instant double-glazing. The tough and durable film shrinks to fit the window tightly with the heat from a hairdryer. It is quick and simple to fit and requires no special tools.

Local Double Glazing businesses who can help include "Pane Relief" (Almondsbury) "The Window Doctors" (Winterbourne), "High Tech Windows" (Eastwood Park) and "Bradleystoke PVCu Window Repairs".