The thermometers begin to drop and once again we have to combat the low temperatures, both when we go out and in our daily lives inside the house. On this last case, the problem intensifies in old and poorly insulated homes.
We have all heard at some point about methods to avoid being cold in winter. A problem that becomes more evident in homes that do not have the most adequate insulation systems. But what happens when the tricks we apply don’t work? So There is no choice but to look for solutions And if they are also cheap, even better.
Doors, floors and walls
I have tried use weather stripping to stop the cold Enter through windows and the bottom of doors, to seal any cracks or fissures that may appear in closures with putty, expanding foam or sealing tape and thus prevent the entry of cold air.
Install self-adhesive weather stripping around doors and windows It serves to prevent air filtration. They are economical and easy to install and prevent interior heat from escaping and water and humidity from the outside, as well as cold.
Wooden or parquet floors insulate better from the cold, but it is not a cheap solution to change the flooring throughout the house. Alternatively you can always cover as much surface as you can with rugs and carpetssince it provides an insulating layer from the cold that can seep through the ground.
But when this is not enough, a formula goes through improve wall insulation. Inexpensive insulating materials such as fiberglass or cellulose can be used. Installing additional layers of Pladur or PVC on the walls can help prevent interior heat leakage. Furthermore, these systems allow that at the same time can be redecorated inside the house. They are very cheap and easy to install.
You can also use reflective insulators on ceilings. It is a material that, with a very thin thickness, allows the creation of an air chamber that serves as an insulator, while also serving as a reflection system for internal heat, which improves its insulating capacity. There are thermoreflective products of several layers, with polyethylene and air bubbles.
Another solution is to use projected natural cork. You can apply it on the floor, walls or ceiling and is a ecological solution. It is sprayed with a gun and in addition to thermal insulation, it also has acoustic insulation properties.
Windows and blinds
Another possibility is monitor windows and blinds. For the former, especially if you don’t have low-E glass, you can use clear plastic sheets on the windows during the colder months. This helps create an additional layer of air insulation between the window and the room.
In the case of blinds, one of the points for which heat usually escapes and cold enters, you can act for very little money. It is enough to avoid this leak point by using a type of lining on the inside that acts as insulation. It is something that we have already seen as a very cheap option.
Closely related to windows is the use of curtains. If you have the possibility, use thicker curtainswhich help retain heat inside the house, preventing the entry of cold as if it were a barrier.
Improve how radiators work
Another solution that can be sought is to improve the operation of wall radiators by preventing part of the heat they generate from being lost through the wall. It is enough to use an insulation kit from those sold in stores or even cheaper, in make it ourselves using materials such as cardboard and aluminum foil.
What this system does is optimize the heat reflection that reaches the wall, thus achieving more efficient heating. It is not lost due to the porosity of the wall and is reflected back into the interior.
Plugs and sockets
Cold air may seep through the plugs and sockets, especially if there are cracks or openings around them. Although drafts through outlets may not be as obvious as those felt around windows or doors, they can still contribute to heat loss in a room.
At this point there is something else we can do that we may not think about. It is about improving theisolating electrical plugs and outlets by installing Insulating covers on electrical plugs and outlets to prevent air leaks. Child protection can also be used.
Is about insulating caps Designed specifically for this purpose designed to seal the area around sockets, creating a barrier against drafts.
In case of cracks, you can also apply putty or sealant around the edges of the outlets to close any gaps between the outlet and the wall. This can help further reduce cold air infiltration.
With all these methods you can fight against the entry of cold, humidity and even water into the home and combat the heat loss that we have generated inside, something that is reflected in the energy bill and therefore in our pocket.
In Xataka SmartHome | This little device is my secret to not being cold at home and saving electricity. Three minutes plugged in and generates heat for several hours