With the weather cooling down we are all starting to talk about winter approaching. To make sure your house stays nice and toasty during these winter months here at 10 simples tips you can implement.

1. Use heavy curtains

Did you know up to 40% of the heat escaping from your home in winter is from uncovered windows. By having heavy, lined curtains which extend below the window frame it will insulate your windows and help keep the warmth in.

2. Install insulation in your house (or update the old stuff)

If you have a well insulated house it can save you as much as 45% less energy for heating and cooling, which means that insulation pays for itself in cheaper bills.

3. Seal up gaps and cracks 

You will be surprised how many gaps and cracks appear in your house and these can account for 15-25% of heat loss. If you added up all the cracks and gaps, it could be the equivalent of having a 1 metre by 1.5 metre window open all the time. So seal up cracks and gaps using weather stripping around doors and windows, gap filler for cracks in the walls and even a simple door snake for the bottom of the door.

4. Install pelmets

Pelments are either boxes which sit cover your curtain rod or ‘invisible pelmets’ which sit above your curtain rod and butt up against the back of the curtain. These stop the cold air coming into your room from the top of the curtain. Or a super cheap option is to put a towel on top of your curtains during the winter, it isn’t pretty but it does the job!

5. Watch the temperature

Heat the rooms you are using to around 20ºC in winter, a comfortable temperature for most people. If this is a little cool think of putting on a jumper before you try turning up the heat.

6. Close off rooms

There is no need to heat the furniture in a room you aren’t in. By keeping doors closed you can contain the heat in the areas you are in.

7. Natural light during the day

When the sun is shining let it in open up their curtains to let the sun heat up your house for you.

8. Insulate hot water pipes

A simple way of doing this is to wrap external hot water pipes with insulating tape, this will reduce the heat loss from your hot water tank to the taps, and reduce the energy needed to get your hot water.

9. Heat yourself

Make sure you wear weather appropriate clothes this will help reduce the electricity bill and keep you toasty. We also have winter blankets we bring out to wrap ourselves up in while watching TV.

10. Maintain your heaters

If you get your heater serviced professionally at least every two years it will run more efficiently. Keeping heaters free of dust and cleaning any filters regularly will also help.