Often the first thing you rely on to warm your home is the heater. But why not be wiser with heating, by making it work more efficiently in your home? Installing insulation should be a no-brainer, but here are a few other things you can do.

Safety first
The end of daylight saving has been used nationally by most states as the date to change your smoke-alarm batteries – you change your clocks and you change your batteries. So, if you haven’t already done so, change the battery now. It’s usually as simple as unclipping the cover, taking out the 9V battery and replacing it.

Also consider investing in a fire blanket, but don’t install it beside the stove. If there is a stove-top fire you won’t be able to reach it. Install it in a cupboard nearby.

Staying snug

Although your house may look solid, there are areas where heat can leak out. Gaps around windows and doors, thin glass windows that don’t retain heat, an uninsulated roof and gappy floorboards can all let in the cold. Just follow these tips to recognise and easily fix those breezy areas.

1. Search for draughts

Shrinkage and movement in your home are facts of life. Gaps are common around windows, doors and even plumbing entry points. It’s claimed that draughts can add up to 25 per cent to your heating bill, but if you’re not sure where they’re coming from, check using a smoking incense stick or similar. Hold the stick near gaps to see if the smoke is drawn outside or blows more strongly into the house.

2. Mend the gaps

Seal gaps between walls and windows or doors. Use a flexible sealant, such as Selleys No More Gaps, that will stretch and compress with the movement of the house. Before applying, make sure surfaces are clean and dust-free. There are colours available to match painted or stained windows and brickwork, and many can be painted over as well.

3. Seal the windows

There are a variety of seals available to stop draughts between opening window sashes and window frames. For casement and awning windows, use a seal, such as Raven RP48 or RP59, depending on the size of the gap. Installing them is very easy – just cut to length with scissors, remove the backing and stick them in place.

4. Roll out a rug

If you have floorboards that have shrunk and have noticeable gaps in between them, there will be some draughts coming through the floor. Simply rolling out a rug will help keep the floor cosy.

Outer door seal

There is often a 10mm gap under the front and back doors, so use an easy-fit door seal to stop those winter draughts. There are many styles – we used the Raven RP60 Automatic Door Bottom Seal.

STEP 1

Measure the width of the door opening between the doorstops. Subtract 2mm, then cut the door seal to that length using a hacksaw. If your door is less than 750mm wide, then just take equal amounts off each end of the seal. Using a file, smooth away any sharp edges. Fit the adjusting screw into the end of the seal that will be placed at the hinge end, then screw it in fully. Screw the entire length of the seal to the door so the underside is flush with the bottom of the door and the adjusting pin (screw) is hard up against the doorstop.

STEP 2

Open your door and then undo the adjusting screw by 2 turns. Next, fit the supplied thumbtack to the rebate of the doorjamb where the adjusting screw will hit. Close the door. The seal should just touch down on the threshold when the door is shut. If not, adjust the screw by half turns at a time for a firm but gentle seal. Fit the rubber cover over the seal to finish.

1. Hang curtains
Glass windows are a weak point in homes, as typical single-glazed windows lose heat during winter and offer little protection against summer heat if not shaded. But you don’t need to spend
a fortune to stay warm and prevent heat loss through windows. Heavy curtains with box pelmets are a great way to insulate your windows, by creating a pocket of still air.

If you want to retain your great view and the heat, you may like to invest in glass or film double glazing.

2. Double glaze windows

Double glazing works by trapping a pocket of air between the inner and outer panes of glass. The less-expensive ClearComfort system works in a similar way, but uses a heat-shrinkable membrane in place of one of the glass panes. It works best for fixed, casement and awning windows and takes just five minutes per window to install. You can hardly tell anything is there, but it gives you an enclosed cavity of air that acts as a great insulator. Although mainly designed for indoor use, on double-hung windows protected by eaves you’ll have to install the film on the inside at the bottom and the outside at the top. Sliding windows can also be a little more difficult as the seal that rubs against the closing sash will, over time, loosen and mark the membrane. In this case, you may need to make separate, removable frames to hold the membrane – this will allow you to periodically open the windows for fresh air.

3. Insulate your roof

If you haven’t insulated your ceiling, now is the time. Not only will you reap benefits, such as low heating costs and better heat retention, the government is launching the Energy Efficient Homes Package and will pay for the materials and installation in eligible homes – up to $1600 in owner-occupied homes and $1000 in rental properties! The only catch is the job has to be done by a tradesperson normally attached to the manufacturer or supplier of the insulation products, so you can’t do it yourself.

Easy-does-it film double glazing

You can insulate your windows with the simple ClearComfort system.

STEP 1

Clean your window frame with methylated spirits. The surface should be smooth and sealed. Apply double-sided tape from kit to frame. If window is more than 1sqm, use double the number of tape strips.

STEP 2

Use the back of a spoon, to burnish (firmly attach) tape to frame.

STEP 3

Cut film to about 100mm larger than the window on all sides. Starting at the top, remove backing paper from tape and stretch the film over the opening, just touching it lightly on the tape at this stage. The film should be evenly and gently stretched. Don’t worry about slight wrinkles. If necessary, lift and reposition.

STEP 4

Use the back of the spoon again to firmly press film onto the double-sided tape. Then, using a sharp utility knife, trim around the tape neatly to remove excess film.

STEP 5

Use a hair-dryer, moving it constantly to shrink the membrane so it’s taut; the wrinkles will disappear. Don’t hold it still or too close or you may burn a hole in the film.

Save on your heating bill

In the average house, 23 per cent of the energy bill is used for heating and cooling. Gas heating is the most eco-friendly and least expensive to run. But regardless of your heating system, if it has a thermostat, set it to no more than 21 degrees in winter – each degree above this will add up to 10 per cent to your heating bill. Also, to be even more energy and cost efficient, clean any filters regularly and isolate rooms for heating.