How can I make my home warmer?

The best way to make your home warmer and lower your energy bills is to take a “whole house” approach. This means looking at your home as one complete system, so all the improvements work together to create a warm comfortable home that cuts your energy bills. This means looking at your:

• insulation
• heating
• draught proofing
• ventilation

The “whole house” way of doing things really matters because it:

• Avoids heat loss in hidden areas – insulating just one part, like the loft, while leaving walls or floors uninsulated can still let heat escape.
• Prevents damp and mould – good ventilation is essential, and needs to be carefully considered, especially when sealing up draughts.
• Future-proofs your home – having a long-term plan helps schedule things in the right order, so you’re not wasting time or having to re-work anything. For example, insulate your home now but at a level that makes sure you can switch your boiler to a heat pump later.

Insulation is the starting point for an energy efficient home. It helps keep heat in during winter and keeps it out during summer.

That means you can install a smaller, cheaper heating system that’s just the right size for your needs. If you fit heating first and insulate later, your system might end up being too big for what your home actually needs. This will cost you more to buy and run. Even if you decide not to insulate, it’s important to think it through before making other changes.

So, which areas of your home should you think about insulating?

• Loft or roof – 25% of heat could be lost through your uninsulated roof. Adding 270mm of loft insulation is one of the most cost-effective steps.
• Cavity walls – if your home was built after the 1920s but before the 1990s, it’s likely to have cavity walls that can be filled with insulation.
• Solid walls – older homes may need internal or external wall insulation, which can cut heat loss.
• Floors – insulating ground floors can make a big difference to the comfort of your home.
• Hot water tank and pipes – A simple jacket and pipe lagging reduces heat loss and saves money.

Your heating system can play a big part in how warm and energy efficient your home is, after all, it’s the engine of your home.

Most people in West Yorkshire have traditional central heating, which heats the whole house. There are three main types and these can be powered by natural gas, oil, or liquid petroleum gas:

• Combi boilers deliver both heating and hot water directly from the boiler, with hot water boiled on demand when a tap is turned on. They’re ideal for small homes.
• System boilers provide central heating and store hot water in a cylinder. These are suited to homes with high hot water demand and multiple bathrooms.
• Heat only boilers work in a similar way to system boilers but also have two header tanks to store cold water. These are for homes that need lots of hot water or have low mains water pressure.

Then there are two greener energy efficient alternatives you can also consider:

• Air source heat pumps provide heating and hot water by using free heat from the air, making them more efficient that traditional boilers. They cost more, but there is funding available from the Government to help with the up-front cost.
• Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity that you can use in your home to power not only your heating, but also your appliances or electric car. You can make money too by selling surplus electricity to the grid. Install a home battery and you can save the energy you generate and use it later.

Look for draughty gaps around windows, doors and floors, and seal them to stop warm air escaping. But don’t block ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms - these areas need fresh air to avoid condensation. In some cases, you might even need to increase ventilation.

Ventilation really matters because when you insulate or seal up draughts, your home holds onto heat better, but it could also trap moisture. That moisture used to escape through gaps or poorly insulated walls, but now it needs a new way out. Without proper ventilation, you could end up with condensation, damp or mould.

A good installer will think about ventilation as part of your insulation plan, so your home stays warm and healthy. We can help you find a trusted, certified installer.

Want expert advice and support? Speak to one of our advisors and we can help you access:

• Low-interest loans for insulation and other energy upgrades.
• Grants from national schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Disabled Facilities Grant for eligible households.