7 DIY Ideas & Heating Tips to Keep Your House Warm This Winter

What Temperature Should You Keep Your House during Winter?

The NHS and UK Government recommend keeping indoor temperatures between 18 to 21°C during winter. Living rooms are best kept at 21°C, and bedrooms can be cooler, at around 18°C. This level of temperature is needed to prevent respiratory problems, especially for older adults, babies, or those with medical conditions.

On the other hand, overheating wastes energy and drives up bills. To keep your house constantly cosy and comfortable with minimal energy spending, follow these tips. 

Smart Use of Your Heating System

Before winter arrives, check your heating system thoroughly. A well-maintained heating system is the foundation for keeping your house warm, safe, and efficient.

Using Central Heating

Almost every house in the UK has a central heating system. It includes pipework and radiators connected to a boiler. The boiler heats water, and a pump circulates it around your radiators. Once the water cools, it returns to the boiler to be reheated. Many UK homes use a “wet system” (water-based), but there are also air, electric, and renewable alternatives. Here are the key tips to use central heating smartly.

Setting Your Thermostat Smartly

Getting the thermostat right is the simplest way you can do to maintain a comfy living space without overspending on energy. Rather than constantly adjusting it to a very high or very low degree, we recommend a stable temperature setting. 

• Keep the overall temperature at around 18 to 21°C.
• Ensure accurate reading by placing it in the main living areas, far from draughts or direct sunlight
• Set a timer to switch it on/off smartly to avoid wasting heat and energy
• Reduce the temperature overnight because you can rely more on beddings
• Only turn on central heating when you need warmth around the whole house. Otherwise, switch to portable heaters for more concentrated heat in a small room/area.

Use Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) Correctly

Controlling the temperature can be done more precisely with a Thermostatic Radiator Valve. A TRV is attached to your radiator in each room and has 5 levels of temperature. It gives you a room-to-room control over the temperature so you don't waste heat in spaces you use less often. As the room heats up to the set level, the valve is automatically closed to restrict the flow of hot water into the radiator. 

• TRVs should be in steady settings at 3 (about 20°C)
• Bedrooms can have slightly lower settings 
• Never cover TRVs with curtains or clothes and keep doors shut for accurate estimation

Optimising Your Boiler and Hot Water Settings

If you are using a 'wet heating system', your boiler and hot water settings play an important role in heating efficiency. With the right adjustment, you can keep your house warm and comfortable during the winter.

• Check your boiler thermostat and set it between 65 and 70°C. This is the ideal setting for radiators.
• Switch to “eco mode” to save more energy
• Regularly maintain and service your boiler at least once a year.
• Upgrade your boiler if it's more than 10 years old

Bleed Your Radiators

If there are cold spots on your radiators, it is likely because of trapped air. Bleeding radiators is a simple job that keeps your radiator evenly heated and reach full efficiency. You can bleed radiators once or twice a year before the cold season. Simply hold a cloth under the valve, turn it slowly until air escapes, then tighten once water appears. This ensures even heating across your radiator.

Controlling Heat Loss

Once your heaters are on, you need to make sure this warm heat won't escape through unwanted places, such as into the walls or through windows and doors.

• Use radiator reflectors (foil or reflective panels) behind the radiator on the external walls to direct the heat back into the room.
• Avoid placing furniture too close to radiators to allow heat to circulate freely.
• Dust and clean your radiators regularly
• Never cover radiators with curtains or use them for drying clothes 
• Close the curtains before dark hours 
• Draught-proof your home with small DIY tasks, which are shared below. 

Using Portable Heaters

Portable heaters can help reduce energy bills by heating specific areas, rather than your entire home. There are different types of portable heaters, including oil-filled radiators, fan heaters, halogen heaters, and convector heaters. While using this type of heater, there are a couple of tips you can follow to keep your house warmer. 

• Choose the right device for your needs. Read our portable heater buying guide for the home.
• Place the unit where you spend the most time, ensuring it's not blocked by furniture.
• Use thermostatic or timer controls to avoid wasting energy.
• Combine with insulation methods, which will be mentioned in the next section.

Safety Heating Tips

All heating systems can be a real help in cold weather, but they also come with risks if not used correctly. They can easily lead to fire hazards from overloaded sockets, damaged cables, or being placed too close to flammable objects like curtains and furniture. Fuel-burning heaters also come with a threat of carbon monoxide poisoning if there isn’t enough ventilation.

To safely use heaters, you should always place them on a stable surface, at least 1 meter away from other objects. To avoid hidden risks of fire, burns or dangerous hazards, never dry clothes using portable heaters and switch them off when you leave the house.

Our experts also recommend plugging these portable heaters into a wall socket instead of an extension lead to avoid overload. If you use a fuel-based heater, make sure your room is well ventilated and fit a working carbon monoxide alarm.

For a more detailed checklist, see our portable heater safety tips.

DIY Projects to Keep Your House Warm Without Heating

Beyond heating systems, some DIY projects can help keep your home warmer. These largely focus on reducing heat loss and increasing insulation around the house. 

Fitting Draught Strips and Seals

Draught-proofing around the house is an effective way to keep the heat in. Plus, installing draught strips is quick and easy, even for beginners. Spend some time walking around your home and identifying any gaps around doors and windows. These gaps can be filled with rubber, foam, or brush-stile strips. Use a tape measure you get the exact frame size, cut the material into the desired size then then fix them with screws or staples.

Tools needed:

• Drill/driver or screwdriver
• Staple gun (for fabric or brush strips)
• Tape measure

Installing Loft Insulation

A large amount of heat can escape through the roof, so if your roof isn't insulated, it's time to start a loft insulation DIY project. Loft insulation can last up to 40 years and help you reduce heating costs. For best practice, use rolls of mineral wool or fibreglass and lay them between the joists. Alternatively, you can use rigid insulation boards for deeper coverage. Make sure to protect yourself in any DIY work with suitable clothing and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

Tools needed:

• Insulation cutter
• Board cutter (for rigid insulation)
• Safety gear (gloves, mask, goggles, coveralls)
• Measuring tape

Adding Cavity Wall Insulation

If your house was built after the 1920s, it likely has cavity walls, which have two layers of brick with a gap in between. Filling this gap will trap the warmth inside your house and also lower the energy bills. Insulating cavity walls is done by drilling small holes in the outside wall and injecting insulation material (such as mineral wool or polystyrene beads) into the cavity. The holes are then sealed with mortar. The process is more complex than other DIY projects and often needs professional help.

If this job sounds easy for you and you have experience with many DIY projects, go ahead and hire DIY tools from Speedy for the best results:

Tools needed:

• SDS drill with long masonry bit
• Insulation injection kit (if topping up)
• Safety glasses and a dust mask

View Drilling and Breaking Tools at Speedy

Laying Floor Insulation

Uninsulated floors may be the reason why you still feel cold after turning on the heating. A cheap and effective way to make rooms and floors feel warmer is to place rugs on wood flooring or fit carpets. For a more thorough solution, you can lift floorboards and place insulation rolls or rigid boards underneath, or install thin insulation boards directly on top of existing floors. Underfloor insulation can be done easily with the right tools from Speedy.

Tools needed:

• Circular saw or jigsaw (for cutting boards)
• Multi-tool (handy for awkward spaces)
• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Safety gear (gloves, goggles)

Hire Jigsaws from Speedy

Pipe Lagging and Cylinder Jackets

Making sure your hot pipes and tanks are insulated is a quick win to keep water hot longer, prevent freezing and save energy at the same time. You can use foam sleeves (or so-called pipe lagging) to wrap them around the exposed pipes or hot water cylinder. In order to do this, you may need a utility knife and a tape measure to cut the material and make sure everything fits into place.

Tools needed:

• Pipe cutter (for adjusting lengths of lagging)
• Utility knife
• Tape measure

Hire Pipe Cutters from Speedy

Building Secondary Glazing

Secondary glazing is recommended by experts as an effective way to reduce heat loss. You can easily build a lightweight frame with clear acrylic or perspex sheets with DIY tools. After that, you can seal the edge with caulk. This can also help with reducing outdoor noise in addition to keeping your house warm.

Tools needed:

• Drill/driver
• Mitre saw (for cutting frame pieces)
• Caulking gun and sealant
• Measuring tape
• Screwdriver

Hanging Thick or Thermal Curtains

Surprisingly, as it is, windows are the biggest source of heat loss. Luckily, during cold months, you can always add thermal or thicker curtains for support insulation. It will also block cold draughts from the glass. Open the curtains during daylight to absorb natural warmth and close them at night. 

Tools needed:

• Drill/driver (for fitting new curtain poles or brackets)
• Measuring tape
• Step Ladder
• Staple gun (for attaching DIY linings)

Keep your House Warm With Speedy!

Keeping your home warm this winter is easier and faster than you think. If you are a DIY beginner, try a simple trick such as sealing draughts and hanging thicker curtains. Or go big with oft or floor insulation if you are confident with your DIY skills. These 7 DIY ideas can make your house more comfortable while reducing your energy usage and bills in the long term. 

Speedy is here to provide you with the perfect DIY tools, from drills for fitting draught strips to saws for cutting insulation boards. All tools are tested and serviced regularly, so you don't have to worry about maintenance and focus on getting the job done. Check out the nearest depot for same-day collection or get the tools delivered in 4 hours. 

Don't know where to start? Contact Speedy for expert advice to choose the best tools today!