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During this cost of living crisis and while energy bills are soaring, many of us are trying to find ways to stay warm and comfortable while not spending too much more money.
Whether it’s buying secondhand toys for our kids or rearranging furniture to optimise heating in the home, we’re all making cuts where and when we can. However, one TikTok creator, Brittany Vausser, who is also known as ‘The Hack Queen’ has found a solution to losing heat through windows and it won’t break the bank.
How to reduce heat loss through windows in the home
According to Vausser, all you need to reduce heat loss from windows by “up to 50%” is bubble wrap and a spray bottle of water. From there, cut your bubble wrap to size, spray your window with the water and place the bubble wrap over the window and that’s it! You should notice a reduction in heat loss, according to Vausser.
However, Vausser also recommends that if you’re looking for another option that’s slightly less effective but more aesthetically pleasing, there is stick-on stained glass panelling that can be applied directly to windows. Vausser says that this “not only gives a really pretty effect, but also reduces heat loss.”
Finally, The Hack Queen recommends checking for cracks in the window seal where cold air is coming in.
She recommends getting sealant tape and sticking it on to the bottom of the window panel. If there is a draught coming under doors, get a draught excluder or ‘stopper’ to prevent it entering the room.
How to prevent draughts in the home
The Centre For Sustainable Energy has created a helpful guide for draught-proofing, depending on where the cracks in the home are:
Windows
Use foam, metal or plastic draught strips (see below), or brush seals for sash windows
Exterior doors
Fit brush or hinged-flap draught excluders, fitted along the bottom of the doors
Interior doors
Cut draughts with ‘snake’ draught excluders (photo, right), or similar strips of material (see over). Note that this should only be a temporary measure – while you’re trying to keep warm. Airflow between rooms is good for a home as it reduces the risk of moist air getting trapped in a particular rooms.
Unused chimneys
Chimney draught excluders are available from most DIY stores. Plastic bags stuffed with other plastic bags also work – but remember to remove it in summer to let the air circulate.
Around pipework
Apply silicone mastic, wall-filler or expanding foam as appropriate.
Floorboards and skirting boards
Fill the gaps with flexible fillers, clear or brown silicone mastic, decorators’ caulk or similar products.
Cracks in walls
Use cement or a hard-setting decorators’ wall-filler.
Redundant extractor fan outlets
These should be blocked up. This can be done with expanding foam and should then be covered over internally and externally. This can be done with vent covers or by adding plasterboard internally and matching the look of the external wall.
Loft hatches
Fit strips of draught-excluder around the edges of the frame, and don’t forget to insulate the hatch itself with fibrous or solid board insulation
Lighting and electrical fittings
Plug the gaps around the fittings with wall-filler.
Letterboxes
Fit flaps or brushes to keep the cold air out and the warm air in
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