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What’s causing the chill? From draughty windows and cold floors to poor insulation and inefficient heating systems, there are multiple culprits that could be giving you the shivers. The good news? A cold house isn’t necessarily something you have to live with. With a bit of sleuthing, it’s easy enough to pinpoint and address the causes.
Below, we’ll reveal some of the most common reasons your home could feel cold and how to fix them.
Poor insulation is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to cold homes. Good insulation should trap warmth inside during the winter but if your materials are old, ineffective or poorly installed, you could be losing heat faster than you’re making it.
Thin or patchy loft insulation, along with missing cavity wall insulation are issues we see a lot in the East Midlands. Another common cause of a house that’s always cold is outdated materials like fibreglass or formaldehyde. They’ve either lost their effectiveness over time or never performed that well in the first place.
Fix it: Consider upgrading your insulation with a high-performance material like sprayed cork insulation. It not only seals gaps but also provides a strong thermal barrier. Plus, it’s eco-friendly, reduces heat loss and can save you a tonne of money on heating bills.
Draughts are a right nuisance, especially in older homes. You might feel the chill sneaking in around windows, doors loft hatches or even through floorboards. These air leaks can make your home feel colder than it actually is, no matter how hard your boiler’s working.
Here’s how to spot a draught:
Fix it: Simple solutions like draught excluders, weatherstripping around doors and windows, and filling in gaps with sealant can make a BIG difference.
Is your house always cold? Your heating system could be letting you down without you even realising it. A boiler that’s past its prime, radiators that need bleeding or a poorly set thermostat can all contribute to a cold house. Failing to maintain or update your heating system is like asking an old banger to win the Grand Prix. Just not going to happen.
Common heating system woes:
Fix it: Servicing your boiler regularly, bleeding radiators and repositioning your thermostat can help. If your boiler is over a decade old, it could be time to upgrade to a more energy-efficient model. Yes, it’s an investment. But it’ll keep your home toasty and save you money in the long run.
You might as well be heating the garden if you’ve got single-glazed windows. These types of windows are notorious for letting heat escape and allowing cold draughts in. Trust us, even the most efficient heating systems won’t be able to keep up!
Symptoms of single glazing:
Fix it: Double or triple glazing can make a huge difference. If new windows aren’t in the budget, DIY fixes like installing thermal window film or heavy curtains can help.
Cold floors can make your whole house feel like a drafty barn. This is often due to a lack of insulation beneath the floorboards which can allow cold air to rise up from below.
Fix it: Sick of ice-cold toes? Consider laying insulation under your floorboards to help keep the cold out. Another more budget-friendly option is using area rugs or installing carpets to add an extra layer of warmth. This can work especially well on wooden or tiled floors.
Do you have rooms you never use? Maybe a spare bedroom or dining room that’s shut off from the rest of the house? Leaving these spaces unheated can cause the chill to seep into other areas of your home and drag down the overall temperature.
Fix it: Keep unused spaces at a low but steady temperature rather than shutting off the heat completely. This helps maintain a consistent temperature in your home.
Is your house always cold, even in the summer? Homes that don’t get much natural sunlight can feel eternally cold. North-facing rooms and properties shaded by trees or other buildings can also miss out on natural warmth.
Fix it: Maximise sunlight by keeping curtains open during the day. Trim back overgrown trees or bushes that could be blocking daylight from warming your home and if possible, consider installing a new window or skylights.
Suspect poor insulation could be making your home feel like the Arctic? At Total Trades, we specialise in sprayed cork insulation, a next-generation solution designed to warm up your space. A proven thermal insulator, sprayed cork not only drastically improves the thermal performance of homes but can slash heating bills by up to 15%.
Get in touch with Total Trades today on 0333 5771139 or email sales@total-trades.co.uk to connect with a team member and find out more about how we can help update your insulation and keep your home toasty warm, no matter how low the temperature dips.
