Decreasing Your House Heat Losses: 5 Simple Tips That Really Work

 


Decreasing Your House Heat Losses: 5 Simple Tips That Really Work

Every winter we talk about energy bills, draughts, and why the house feels colder despite the heating being on.
The truth is blunt: most UK homes lose heat faster than we can afford to replace it.

The good news? You don’t need a full retrofit or a second mortgage to make a real difference. Here are five simple, affordable ways to cut heat loss and stay warmer for less.

1. Stop Draughts Before You Turn the Thermostat Up

Draughts are just heat leaks in disguise.

Check:

  • Doors (especially older external doors)

  • Letterboxes and keyholes

  • Windows that rattle on windy days

  • Loft hatches

Simple fixes like draught excluders, brush seals, and foam strips are cheap, quick, and often pay for themselves within weeks.

💡 If you can feel a draught with your hand, your heating bill can feel it too.

2. Insulate the Loft (Because Heat Rises… and Escapes)

Around a quarter of a home’s heat loss can be through an uninsulated loft.

  • Modern recommendation: 270 mm of insulation

  • Many homes still have 100 mm… or less

  • Loft insulation is one of the cheapest energy upgrades per £ spent

If your loft looks like a thin grey carpet rather than a fluffy duvet, you’re probably under-insulated.

3. Use Curtains and Blinds Properly

Windows are one of the biggest heat loss areas in any house.

What helps:

  • Close curtains at dusk

  • Use thick or thermal-lined curtains

  • Fit blinds close to the glass

What doesn’t:

  • Leaving curtains open “for the view” on a freezing night

  • Radiators blocked by long curtains (that heat goes straight up the window)

Think of curtains as night-time insulation, not decoration.

4. Don’t Forget Floors and Chimneys

Two often-ignored heat escape routes:

Floors

  • Bare floorboards leak cold air from below

  • Rugs and carpets make a noticeable difference

  • Draught-proofing between boards helps older homes

Fireplaces

  • Open chimneys act like permanent extractor fans

  • A chimney balloon or removable cap can stop warm air vanishing upwards

5. Insulate Hot Water Pipes and the Cylinder

This one is easy, cheap, and oddly satisfying.

  • Foam pipe insulation keeps hot water hot

  • Lagging a hot water cylinder reduces reheating

  • Faster hot water = less wasted energy

If your hot water pipes are too hot to touch, they’re heating the airing cupboard—not your tap.

The Bigger Picture

Before changing boilers or debating heat pumps, fix the heat leaks.
Every watt you don’t lose is a watt you don’t need to generate, buy, or worry about.

Small changes add up—especially when energy prices aren’t going anywhere sensible.

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