Tenant winter guide: How to keep your home warm and costs low
Winter months bring the challenge of maintaining comfortable home temperatures whilst managing heating costs.
Tenants can implement practical strategies that keep properties warm without excessive expenditure, whilst also protecting the home from cold-weather damage that affects both comfort and property condition.
Understanding your heating system
Familiarising yourself with how your heating system operates helps use it efficiently. Most modern thermostats allow programming of different temperatures for various times of day, enabling you to reduce heating when the property is empty or during sleeping hours whilst ensuring warmth when needed.
Setting the thermostat to a consistent moderate temperature often proves more cost-effective than allowing the property to cool completely before reheating. Maintaining around 18–21 degrees during occupied periods provides comfortable conditions for most people, with individual preferences varying within this range.
Radiator thermostatic valves allow room-by-room temperature control. Reducing temperatures in less-used rooms whilst maintaining warmth in main living spaces helps manage costs without sacrificing comfort where it matters most. However, avoid turning heating off completely in any room as this can lead to condensation problems.
Simple draught-proofing measures
Reducing draughts represents one of the most cost-effective ways to improve warmth. Check around windows and external doors for gaps where cold air enters. Simple foam strips or draught excluders can be fitted without causing property damage and removed when you move out.
Letterboxes often allow significant draughts. Brush-style draught excluders designed for letterboxes cost little and make noticeable differences to hallway temperatures. Similarly, gaps under doors benefit from draught excluders that can be easily installed and removed.
Window treatments help retain heat. Closing curtains or blinds before dusk traps warmth inside and creates an insulating layer between room and cold glass. Opening them during sunny days, even in winter, allows free solar heating.
Maximising heating efficiency
Ensure radiators have clear airflow around them. Furniture placed directly against radiators prevents heat circulating properly around rooms. Even modest spacing significantly improves heat distribution and reduces the time required to warm spaces.
Bleeding radiators removes trapped air that prevents proper heating. If radiators feel cold at the top but warm at the bottom, they likely need bleeding. This simple task requires only a radiator key and can dramatically improve heating performance. Inform your landlord if you’re unsure about performing this maintenance.
Keeping radiators clean helps them operate efficiently. Dust accumulation reduces heat output, so wiping radiators periodically improves their performance without cost.
Managing condensation
Adequate ventilation prevents condensation whilst maintaining warmth. When cooking or showering, use extractor fans if provided and keep doors closed to prevent moisture spreading throughout the property. Opening windows briefly after these activities allows moisture to escape whilst minimising heat loss.
Trickle vents in windows should remain open to provide background ventilation. They allow minimal air exchange that prevents condensation without significantly affecting room temperature.
Drying clothes indoors increases moisture levels considerably. Where possible, use outdoor drying or well-ventilated areas. If indoor drying is necessary, ensure the room is ventilated and avoid placing wet clothes on radiators.
Energy-saving habits
Small behavioural changes accumulate into meaningful savings. Keeping doors closed between heated and unheated spaces retains warmth where needed. Wearing appropriate indoor clothing may allow slightly lower thermostat settings without discomfort.
Hot water usage significantly affects energy costs. Reducing shower duration and avoiding unnecessary hot water use saves both water and the energy required to heat it.
When to contact your landlord
Report heating system problems promptly. Inefficient or malfunctioning systems waste energy whilst failing to provide adequate warmth. Cold radiators, unusual boiler noises, or heating that doesn’t respond to controls require professional attention.
Report unresolved draughts around windows or doors that simple measures can’t fix. These often indicate maintenance issues that require landlord action.
If you’re struggling to maintain comfortable temperatures despite reasonable heating use, this may indicate insulation or system issues that should be investigated.
Get expert property advice
This article was originally published by BriefYourMarket and is reproduced here with their permission.
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