download the full victorian homes ebook<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Victorian Homes, a free ebook created by Adrian Flux insurance services. It is full of Victorian house facts and tips on how to create a Victorian style house \u2014 even if you live in a new-build home \u2014 and advice on where to source original Victorian and reproduction fixtures, fittings, furniture, accessories and art.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Ebook <\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n1. Reduce drafts in your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many Victorian homes, especially those with original features such as single-glazed sash windows and hardwood floorboards, are very drafty. In winter, this can mean your home has a dreadful chill, so the best heating hacks are around draft-proofing your property as best you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is estimated that up to 40% of your home\u2019s heat is lost through doors, windows and the floor so these are clearly the first areas you need to take a look at when thinking about heating hacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a number of ways you can do this. This includes adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Draft excluders at exterior doors<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Draft-excluding covers for openings such as letterboxes and keyholes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Heavier curtains at windows<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Full-length curtains at exterior doors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Around 35% of heat loss is through the walls and 25% is lost through the roof, so consider loft and cavity wall insulation too. This generally doesn\u2019t come cheap but it will soon pay for itself and you may even qualify for a grant<\/a> to help cover the cost of the work and materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Add bubble wrap to windows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If there is a particularly cold snap and your single-glazed windows are very drafty, a quick and cheap fix is to cover the inside of them with bubble wrap \u2013 though it may clash with your Christmas decorations! It does work, but is only suggested as a short-term fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"heating](\"https:\/\/www.adrianflux.co.uk\/victorian-homes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Landscape-Image-window-1024x667.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Apply sealant to gappy floorboards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Victorian homes weren\u2019t built with central heating, so when it is added wooden floorboards often begin to shrink and can become gappy. If gappy floorboards are a problem in your home, you can apply silicone sealant to help stop heat from escaping. Using thicker underlay below the carpet is also effective in insulating floorboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Keep windows and doors closed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Simple good housekeeping can be one of the best and cheapest heating hacks. Make sure all windows are shut firmly and close the doors to rooms you are not using. This will cut down on drafts and help keep the warmth in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Make sure furniture doesn\u2019t block vents or radiators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In the rooms that you do use, make sure the sofa or your favorite recliner doesn\u2019t block a vent or sit right in front of the radiator. It may feel nice when you\u2019re sitting there, but it\u2019s also preventing heat from circulating through the rest of the house. You\u2019ll probably have to move furniture when it\u2019s time to set up the Christmas tree anyway, so when you do, make sure furniture doesn\u2019t obstruct air flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"heating](\"https:\/\/www.adrianflux.co.uk\/victorian-homes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Landscape-Image-floorboards-1024x667.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Put foil behind radiators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you have central heating, regular servicing will increase its efficiency, but you can try other heating hacks too. Silver foil placed down the back of a radiator will reflect heat back into a room rather than letting it escape through the walls. Kitchen foil can be wrapped around pieces of cardboard that have been cut to size to make it easier to fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specialist radiator foil \u2013 which is stuck on with strong wallpaper paste \u2013 is available for around \u00a37 a roll from B&Q and builders\u2019 merchants such as Screw Fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Consider putting your heating on low<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In many homes, it will prove cheaper to leave your central heating on low permanently rather than turning it up high when you are cold and then turning it down or off when you are too hot. This stops your boiler working too hard and burning excessive fuel \u2014 think of the alternative as accelerating hard and then braking hard in your car. It\u2019s far more comfortable and cost effective to drive in a smoother manner, and the same goes for your central heating too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, you should leave your heating on low if you are going away for a few days too as it will prevent pipes from freezing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"heating](\"https:\/\/www.adrianflux.co.uk\/victorian-homes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Landscape-Image-heating_fire-1024x667.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n8. Turn on your fire or start baking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Download Victorian Homes, a free ebook created by Adrian Flux insurance services. It is full of Victorian house facts and tips on how to create a Victorian style house \u2014 even if you live in a new-build home \u2014 and advice on where to source original Victorian and reproduction fixtures, fittings, furniture, accessories and art.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
1. Reduce drafts in your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many Victorian homes, especially those with original features such as single-glazed sash windows and hardwood floorboards, are very drafty. In winter, this can mean your home has a dreadful chill, so the best heating hacks are around draft-proofing your property as best you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is estimated that up to 40% of your home\u2019s heat is lost through doors, windows and the floor so these are clearly the first areas you need to take a look at when thinking about heating hacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a number of ways you can do this. This includes adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Draft excluders at exterior doors<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Draft-excluding covers for openings such as letterboxes and keyholes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Heavier curtains at windows<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Full-length curtains at exterior doors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Around 35% of heat loss is through the walls and 25% is lost through the roof, so consider loft and cavity wall insulation too. This generally doesn\u2019t come cheap but it will soon pay for itself and you may even qualify for a grant<\/a> to help cover the cost of the work and materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Add bubble wrap to windows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If there is a particularly cold snap and your single-glazed windows are very drafty, a quick and cheap fix is to cover the inside of them with bubble wrap \u2013 though it may clash with your Christmas decorations! It does work, but is only suggested as a short-term fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Apply sealant to gappy floorboards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Victorian homes weren\u2019t built with central heating, so when it is added wooden floorboards often begin to shrink and can become gappy. If gappy floorboards are a problem in your home, you can apply silicone sealant to help stop heat from escaping. Using thicker underlay below the carpet is also effective in insulating floorboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Keep windows and doors closed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Simple good housekeeping can be one of the best and cheapest heating hacks. Make sure all windows are shut firmly and close the doors to rooms you are not using. This will cut down on drafts and help keep the warmth in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Make sure furniture doesn\u2019t block vents or radiators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In the rooms that you do use, make sure the sofa or your favorite recliner doesn\u2019t block a vent or sit right in front of the radiator. It may feel nice when you\u2019re sitting there, but it\u2019s also preventing heat from circulating through the rest of the house. You\u2019ll probably have to move furniture when it\u2019s time to set up the Christmas tree anyway, so when you do, make sure furniture doesn\u2019t obstruct air flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Put foil behind radiators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you have central heating, regular servicing will increase its efficiency, but you can try other heating hacks too. Silver foil placed down the back of a radiator will reflect heat back into a room rather than letting it escape through the walls. Kitchen foil can be wrapped around pieces of cardboard that have been cut to size to make it easier to fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specialist radiator foil \u2013 which is stuck on with strong wallpaper paste \u2013 is available for around \u00a37 a roll from B&Q and builders\u2019 merchants such as Screw Fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Consider putting your heating on low<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In many homes, it will prove cheaper to leave your central heating on low permanently rather than turning it up high when you are cold and then turning it down or off when you are too hot. This stops your boiler working too hard and burning excessive fuel \u2014 think of the alternative as accelerating hard and then braking hard in your car. It\u2019s far more comfortable and cost effective to drive in a smoother manner, and the same goes for your central heating too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, you should leave your heating on low if you are going away for a few days too as it will prevent pipes from freezing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n8. Turn on your fire or start baking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n