10 quick, easy and cheap remedies to keep the cold out and the heat in, bearing in mind: 25% heat escapes through the roof; 10% through windows; 15% through draughts; 15% into the ground and 35% through the walls:
- If you have single glazing, buy and fit some easy to install secondary glazing - from around £50m2
- Or film draught excluder - from £4.49
- If you have open fireplaces that you don’t use (ever), fit a chimney balloon to prevent draughts - from £20
- Fit draught excluders to the bottom of your doors - don’t forget the letterbox - from £15
- Or make them from old stockings - retro ‘snake’ excluders are cheap and cheerful - £0
- Go one step further, fit a curtain (portiere is the chi chi name) across the inside of your external doors. Rod/pole - from £20; curtain £misc
- Line the curtains (and draw them, particularly at nightfall when the temperature drops). From £2 per m2
- Throw down several rolls of insulation in your loft space - up to 270mm (10 inches) is the recommended level - from £10 a roll
- If you have exposed floorboards, grab a couple of rugs and throw them down. Or seal the cracks if you have them - from £20
- Put an extra jumper on (and a second pair of socks). Priceless!
