Have you started turning on the central heating? Or closing the vents on your windows to keep the cold out? Now summer has faded and we head into autumn and winter, it's time to start thinking about ways to prepare your home for the chilly weather.
Here at DUSK, we've put together some practical tips to help you stay warm indoors until summer returns. From banishing draughts to bleeding radiators, make these changes to avoid Jack Frost nipping at your nose this winter.
Shut Off Your Outdoor Tap
This is often overlooked when prepping your home for winter, but turning your outside tap off from within your house can save an expensive plumbing bill. This is because water expands as it freezes, so if there's still water in your outdoor pipe it could crack and leak.
While this is a relatively simple problem to solve if the pipe is outside, if it's inside the wall then it can require a significant amount of pricey plumbing work. To prevent a costly callout, turn your outdoor tap off at the point that it joins your internal pipes, drain and leave off until spring.
Turn Down Your Heating
When you're cold, you may be tempted to turn the thermostat up high, but this can be costly. Setting your thermostat just 1C lower than you'd initially planned can save you around 10% on the price of your energy bills, which can hit particularly hard during the winter months. Alternatively, you could consider installing a smart thermostat. These thermostats, such as Nest or Hive, learn your heating habits and can set the temperature of your home in a way that keeps you warm while looking after your energy bills, too.
Regardless, make sure to place some easily-accessible throws around the home to keep you warm and cosy. This means you won't need to wait for your heating to turn on after a long day at work - simply grab one of your luxury throws and snuggle up on the sofa with a festive movie.
Hang Thermal Door Curtains
While most of us put curtains or blinds over our windows to keep out the chill, the front door, patio and balcony doors tend to go uncovered. But did you know that doors are typically one of the biggest heat venters in the home?
Thermal curtains use multiple layers of fabric that help insulate against the cold and retain the heat. Not only will they keep your rooms warm, but they can help to reduce your energy bills, too. They can also be fitted with a standard curtain pole above the door, making thermal curtains a simple yet stylish winter solution.
Bleed Your Radiators
Over time, pockets of air form in your central heating system. These pockets of air reduce the amount of water and heat that each of your radiators can hold. This usually means you'll be tempted to turn the thermostat up to try and compensate for this heat loss. The solution? Bleeding your radiators.
Using a small radiator key and holding a towel under the hole, twist the key in the slot at the top of the radiator and you'll hear the air escaping. Eventually, water will start to come out; this means that you can stop. Bleeding your radiators is very simple, but there are plenty of useful guides and videos out there if you need a helping hand.
Treat Yourself to a Thick Duvet
Cold weather calls for a cosy home and we know how much of a difference a high-tog duvet can make during the winter months. Aim for something that's thicker than your standard summer quilt, we usually recommend a tog rating of 9 or above.
Here at DUSK, we offer luxury 9 tog duvets out the bag. But if flexibility is something that you're after, our All Seasons duvets include a 4.5 tog and 9 tog duvet that button together to create the ultimate year-round duvet. Simply remove the 9 tog duvet during summer and re-button them for warmth in winter. Don't forget to look out for Black Friday bargains during the colder months too.
Exclude Those Draughts
We've already highlighted thermal door curtains but, depending on how far you're prepared to go, you might want to consider a simple draught excluder to prevent those pesky, under-door, icy breezes.
Draught excluders can be functional and fun, with finishes including felt and faux fur - the perfect match if you're a fan of our faux fur bedding collections. Just make sure it's heavy enough to stay put and stop those cold chills from circulating around your home. Also, if you have animals or children then you should check whether the excluder is safe with no choking hazards such as buttons or tassels.
Rearrange Your Furniture
When arranging your home, it's natural to optimise furniture to create the most aesthetic living space. However, without realising, many of us block our radiators with sofas, which can leave you feeling crisp when the cold hits.
This can be costly, as all the heat from the radiator is absorbed by the sofa. So, whilst the lucky person in the hot seat savours the warmth, the rest of the room isn't getting the full benefit. Move your sofa and other large furniture items away from the radiators to banish the brisk winter cold.
With our seven simple tips, there's no need to feel the freeze over the next few months. Try them for yourself to enjoy a warm and wonderful home this winter.
Have you got any other ideas on how to get your home ready for the winter? We'd love to hear! Tell us your tips on Instagram or Facebook.