Ways to Prepare your Property for Wintertime: Energy Efficiency Improvements

It’s time to start planning how to keep your property dry and warm this winter as the nights become longer and the temperature drops. Making energy-efficient upgrades is one excellent approach to achieve this.

Improving the energy efficiency of your home can help you save money on fuel, make it more pleasant, and contribute to the environment. If you’re a landlord, it can also help you stay compliant with private renting standards. However, these changes must be undertaken with caution to avoid accidentally generating moisture in the building.

This post will go over necessary energy efficiency upgrades to consider for the winter, principles to keep in mind during the process, and specific considerations for classic buildings.

Draught Proofing Doors and Windows

Enhancing energy efficiency does not usually need big upgrades. Draughts-proofing is one of the most simple yet effective actions to prepare your home for the winter months. It somewhat defeats the purpose of an effective boiler, efficient radiators, clean plumbing, and a perfectly set thermostat managing your heating and hot water if you are fighting drafts to keep your home warm. When you lose heat through draughts it can have a considerable impact on the warmth of your flat and increase your heating bills, therefore dealing with them is an important aspect of preparing your property for winter.

Draughts are frequently caused by damaged seals around doors and windows, as well as chimney flue issues. Start by compiling a list of probable draught sources to prepare your home for winter. Common areas to inspect include:

• Inspect windows and doors for gaps around the edges, damaged seals, or loose fittings.
• Check for gaps or cracks in the skirting boards where they meet the wall or floor.
• Traditional tenements with chimneys might experience draughts if the flue is not properly sealed.

Draughts can be identified by apparent cold spots, fractures, gaps, and even mould or moisture in the affected regions, which can lead to increased energy bills. These signs imply that warm air is leaving and cold air is coming in, which makes heating it less comfortable and more expensive.

A lot of draught concerns can be solved with easy DIY fixes.

You can take the following steps:

• Thermal curtains, often known as draught-proof curtains, can help keep cold air out and warm air in.
• Draught-proofing strips or sealants, available at hardware stores, can be used to plug gaps around windows, doors, and skirting boards.
• Consider using a draught excluder or chimney balloon that can be inflated inside the flue for unused chimneys. However, the flue should not be completely blocked. Unused flues should be vented to avoid humidity and keep concealed areas behind wall linings dry.

Installing insulation

Insulation is another improvement worth considering. Installing insulation is a more involved process than draught-proofing, but it might be useful if you have the resources. There are numerous solutions for increasing insulation, which vary depending on the type of building and location of your property.

There are 3 major options for enhancing internal insulation in flats with solid stone masonry or brick walls:

1. Insulation placed over existing wall linings is useful for exposed walls.
2. Placing insulation directly on plaster or masonry in areas where walls are plastered on the hard can prepare your home for better energy saving during the winter months.
3. Timber framing is used to hold insulation in place when all wall linings have been removed.

Other options for cavity and concrete wall constructions may be appropriate.

If you have a ground-level flat, adding underfloor insulation can significantly improve its temperature. Again, the alternatives available will be determined by the type of flooring you have. If you have timber flooring, you may be able to insulate the space beneath it, whereas if you have a solid floor, insulation might be installed on top to help with energy saving.

If you own a top-floor flat, you should think about adding loft insulation. The roof might lose up to 25% of heat. When adding loft insulation, it is essential to strike a balance between sufficient insulation depth and proper airflow. Also, check for roof leaks ahead of time, as moist insulation won’t function properly. Insulation is considered maintenance, thus it normally requires a majority approval from all owners. However, before installing loft insulation, confirm your title and the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 to determine whether the attic area is personally or communally owned.

You may feel comfortable doing insulation upgrades on your own, but for such large projects, it is advisable to get professional assistance. Expert advice can help ensure that any improvements performed are successful and avoid potential problems such as moisture.

Remember these important factors to prepare your home

There are a number of important factors to take into account when implementing energy-efficient adjustments to your house to make sure they have the intended impact and don’t cause unexpected problems like moisture.

These include the following:

U-values

The U-value of a material is often used to rate how well it insulates. When comparing insulating materials, it is crucial to remember that the lower the U-value, the less heat is lost.

Thermal bridging

This happens when certain portions of a wall are significantly colder than others, usually due to a lack of insulation at joist ends or pipe boxes. It can cause condensation, moisture, and mould formation. To reduce thermal bridging, ensure that insulation covers all challenging corners, helping to prepare your home for efficient heating.

Ventilation

Although insulation lowers draughts, ventilation is still required to keep your home dry and the air fresh. It is essential to ensure that lofts, chimneys, and underfloor areas maintain proper airflow to support an efficient central heating system. Mechanical ventilation may also be used.

Wiring and pipes

Insulation of any kind should always be installed underneath pipes in order to keep them in the warm zone. To avoid overheating, wiring should be run below the insulation.

Keeping all of this in mind will guarantee that you get the most out of whatever improvements you make while avoiding issues such as burst pipes in the future.

Traditional Building Considerations

Enhancing the energy efficiency of traditional stone and brick structures requires special considerations because they are distinct from contemporary designs like timber frames. These older houses often have lath and plaster linings that are separated from the stone or brick walls to offer insulation. But as the masonry becomes damp, insulating performance suffers dramatically. Keeping the stone dry is essential because it helps the structure to ‘breathe’, resulting in increased insulation and warmth.

Here’s how to keep a building warm and dry:

• Maintain downpipes and gutters clean, painted, and operational to stop rain from soaking the walls;
• In order to allow moisture to dissipate, always use breathable materials, such as lime mortar;
• Maintain proper ventilation to reduce moisture, avoid condensation, and prevent mould formation.

Conclusion – Energy Efficiency against Winter Weather

Improving your property’s energy efficiency in preparation for winter is a smart move in terms of comfort and sustainability. You may make your home warmer and more efficient by draughts-proofing, installing insulation, and adhering to essential concepts such as good ventilation and moisture control. Whether you live in a modern structure or a traditional stone property, following these procedures will help you or your renters keep warm and save money on electricity during the colder months.