Why are some homes toasty and warm, while others are freezing cold? Is it really just to do with the thermostat being set differently or the heating coming on later in some places? Although those things will certainly make a difference, they’re not the only things that can make a house cold, and if you want to know how to make your home warmer because it’s so uncomfortable right now, we’ve got some useful tips for you. Keep reading to find out more. 

Stop The Cold Air Coming In

Although it might sound obvious, the fact is that some homes are cold because cold air from outside is getting inside. It really is that simple, but the good news is that this can be fixed pretty quickly in most cases. The first thing to do is work out where the cold air is coming from, so walk around your house, and when you notice a draft, take a look at where it’s coming from. Perhaps it’s a window or a door, for example - these are usually the likely culprits. 

Once you find the source of the draft, you’ll need to block it or cover it, and the best way to do that is with the right tools and equipment rather than using things that aren’t meant for the job - the results will be a lot better, and the overall situation will be safer too. So what is the right equipment? Well, that could be adding caulk to gaps to block them up or fixing weatherstripping to doors and windows. You can even add some draft excluders, although that’s not a long-term solution. 

Update Your Insulation 

Perhaps you’ve got great windows and doors that don’t let in any cold air (or you’ve made sure you’ve fixed them so they don’t cause any issues anymore), but you’re still cold, and nothing seems to help. The problem might be your insulation. Every home should have a good layer of up-to-date insulation in its walls and in the roof space, but although that might be the case when your house is new, over time, that insulation can stop being quite so useful. When that happens, the heating you’re putting into your home will rise and keep rising until it disappears because the insulation isn’t keeping it inside where it can help you stay warm. 

It might be wise to get an expert to look at your insulation as they’ll know right away if that’s the issue, and they’ll know how to replace it - and with what material. But of course, it’s not just the insulation itself that might need to be updated; your windows are another form of insulation, and if they’re old and past their prime and you want to keep your home warm, that could be the answer. 

If you decide to replace your windows, the best option to go for is uPVC, as these hold the heat in well, but again, an expert’s advice is always a good idea. 

Whatever you do, you’ll be making your home more energy efficient, which will save you money on your bills, so it’s not a bad idea to look into it even if your home does stay quite warm. 

Fix Your Heating

The reality is that all the points in this blog are simple ones, but sometimes it can take them being pointed out to you to get you started, and this is another that could fall into that category - is your heating actually working? 

It could be that your heating is working fine but that it doesn’t get much of a chance to heat your home because of the issues we mentioned above - the warmth is disappearing due to gaps and poor insulation. However, it might be that your heating system itself is the issue, and it’s not able to heat as high or as quickly as you need it to, either due to its age or because it hasn’t been properly maintained. 

One way to easily check this is to feel your radiators (carefully - they might be hot, and hopefully they are!). Are they are warm as they should be? Have they taken a long time to heat up? Are they only warm in certain areas? All of these things can mean there are issues and that can cause big problems in your home, making it very uncomfortable indeed. 

Once you’ve fixed the problem, it’s best to have regular heating and air conditioning services carried out on an annual basis to prevent it from happening again. Putting these measures in place sooner rather than later can actually save you money in the long run, and they’ll definitely keep your home warmer, which is crucial at this time of year.