Analysis: winter means having the heating on more often so here's how to have a comfortable home with optimal energy use
The winter is coming. This means we need to heat our homes, keep an eye on the cost of heating and sometimes even sacrifice comfort to save money. In addition to thermal comfort, we also need to be careful about indoor air quality during winter. To prevent outdoor chilly air from leaking in, we sometimes get to the point where indoors become stale and stuffy. Moisture built up indoors - due to activities like cooking, drying clothes - cannot escape, leading to damp patches and mould formation.
There are several things you can do to keep your home comfortable and save money on heating this winter. Remember each degree of change in the set-point temperature you use for heating can easily save 10% or more of heating energy use, but going under 18 °C can be harmful to your health so it's better to use other methods to have a comfortable home with optimal energy use.
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Is your heating system fit for purpose?
You should keep your heating system in good running order. Boilers need to be serviced once a year. The same is also recommended for heat pumps but you can check with the supplier of your heat pump for specifics. Ideally, this should be done during autumn.
If you use a fireplace often for supplemental heating, it will also need to be professionally inspected and cleaned. When you are getting the system serviced, ask for help with the settings and how to use them so that you can get the most benefit with least energy use. An efficient system cannot help you if not used properly.
Check your rads
While getting the heating system serviced, it is also recommended to check your radiators. Bleeding your radiators regularly will help them work better and save you money on heating. You can also use automatic radiator bleeding valves to save on the hassle and improve radiator performance. Also, take a vacuum to your radiators - clean them up of cobwebs, dust etc. Clean radiators mean improved heat transfer and less energy use.
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You can step up your radiators game by using radiator reflectors and booster fans. Radiators do not radiate all their heat. In fact, radiator is a misnomer; they "convect" most of their heat, i.e., they heat the air around them, which in turn warms you up. Using radiator booster fans helps them transfer the heat to you more effectively and faster.
Having a radiator reflector panel on the wall behind the radiator helps redirect the heat into the room and helps you get better heating, for same energy use. While thinking of the radiators, get your hot water tank something warm this winter. If your hot water tank does not have enough insulation, consider getting a cylinder jacket to top up the insulation.
Check your ventilation
Check on the ventilation fans in your bathrooms and your kitchen hood. Make sure they are functional and service them per the manufacturer's specifications. You need them to be at their best to avoid moisture built up inside homes. To ensure proper ventilation, also clean out the vents in your walls and trickle vents on windows.
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During winter, it is difficult to keep windows open for ventilation but you do need well ventilated living spaces. One option can be to open windows once in an hour or two and use a fan to push the air, thus having a quick airing of your living room or bedroom, in a matter of minutes.
Carbon monoxide leaks are more common in the winter due to increased use of heating appliances and reduced ventilation. It is a good time to change the batteries in and test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Moisture and air
Dry your clothes outside or in well aired spaces whenever possible. This will also help prevent moisture from building up in your home. While on the topic of moisture build up, make sure your roof and gutters are clean. Lack of drainage can also lead to damp and mould.
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Air leaks around windows, doors, and other openings can let out a lot of heat, and conversely, let in the cold form outdoors. You can seal air leaks with caulk or weatherstripping, and window-film kits over the glass. Consider using exterior silicone caulk as it is less impacted by temperature fluctuations. Since heat escapes more easily through the window than the walls, using thick curtains and blinds can help insulate your windows and keep heat in.
Be smart
If you want to keep a close eye on your electricity, use and modulate your usage patterns and timings accordingly, you can consider a smart home energy monitor. Knowing what appliances are responsible for the bulk of your energy use can help you plan your usage better and save energy.
In the long run, adding insulation to the attic and walls is a crucial step towards improving comfort and energy efficiency. Retrofitting your older windows will also help. Two less invasive measures can be getting a programmable thermostat for your heating system and smart thermostatic radiator valves. The latter can help create heating schedules for individual rooms so you can leave unused/empty rooms at a cooler temperature and save significant amount of energy.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
