Congratulations on acquiring your new home! It's a thrilling milestone but also a considerable financial commitment. It's wise to take immediate action to enhance your home's energy conservation to capitalize on this investment.

Losing warmth in your living space, notably during the colder seasons, can lead to mounting costs. You can make myriad modifications and improvements to your home, ranging from significant overhauls to minor tweaks, all aimed at thwarting this thermal escape.

Let's have a look at the action you can take today to ensure your energy bills are not increased unnecessarily!

1. Inspect the Insulation in Your Loft

Even with the rest of the home being properly insulated and airtight, neglecting the attic can lead to significant heat drainage. This forces your heating system to toil harder, inflating costs throughout. 

It's prudent to assess the loft insulation to ensure it retains the heat where it belongs. Inadequate insulation and improper ventilation can also spawn other issues, such as moisture in the attic or the formation of ice barriers.

2. Enhance Your Window Quality

Windows that fall short in energy efficiency can be significant conduits for thermal escape. In fact, they rank as the prime offenders for energy leakage in residence. Investing in energy-saving window replacements or upgrades can pay dividends.

This could involve new framing or applying a specialized window film, both simple yet effective ways to obstruct the chill.

Read more: The Impact of Roof Design on Home Energy Efficiency

3. Deploy Thick Draperies

While not using curtains during the warmer months may be perfectly acceptable unless you have privacy concerns, draping windows in the winter is not just beneficial but a must. Once a room is cozy, thick draperies that sit close to the window can help preserve that warmth by forming a barrier against the glass.

4. Weatherproof Your Entryways

Doors can unwittingly be channels for heat to vacate your home, even when securely closed. A storm door can be an added insulating layer, or weather stripping can be applied around exterior doors. Addressing any air leaks through these measures can significantly cut energy loss.

Read more: 7 Components That Keep Draughts From Getting In Through Your Doors

5. Adorn Your Floors with Rugs

Unless you've installed underfloor heating, tiled surfaces can feel cold underfoot. Simply laying down rugs can trap heat in the floor and provide a softer, warmer surface to tread on.

6. Install a Fireplace Damper

Should your home feature a fireplace, a damper is essential. Dampers act as a seal when not in use and thwart undesired heat escape. An exposed chimney can be a gateway for cold drafts, so remember to unseal the damper when lighting a fire.

7. Shut Doors and Vents in Vacant Rooms

If certain rooms remain unused, conserve warmth by closing doors and vents in those areas. This localized approach to heating can be more efficient, as it keeps warmth where needed.

8. Use Drywall to Control Air Movement

Materials known as air barriers are crafted to regulate airflow within your home. Specifically, they hinder the mixture of indoor and outdoor air, a key factor in heat loss. A drywall can function as an efficient air barrier when correctly installed and maintained.

9. Invest in Outlet and Switch Insulation

It may come as a shock, but electrical outlets and switches can be significant sources of heat loss in older properties. Small air voids can lead to significant thermal escape. Using caulk or foam gaskets to seal these gaps can make a big difference.

10. Consider Additional Insulation Methods

Even subtle elements like outlets and light switches can become conduits for heat escape, especially in aging homes. Sealing these small openings using methods like caulking or foam gaskets can conserve significant warmth.

Final Thoughts

These easy-to-follow strategies will help protect your new investment, maintain a comfortable living environment, and save on energy costs. Whether through significant improvements or minor adjustments, each measure is essential in conserving heat in your home.

Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.

Download her free bathroom renovation guide here.