No point in bailing out a leaky boat when there is a hole in the floor! Property owners should start looking at the basics of " Energy Efficeny" in their homes before they invest in heating solutions for the winter.
It is common sense really. What's the point in investing in expensive heating solutions without plugging the significant Heat / Energy " Leaks" in your home ?
We often see people diving in to spen large sums of money without looking at the simple things first. Insulation of a home is key, starting with basic “draught audit” by the property owner within their home. Simple measures such as the follows should be considered:
- sealing windows
- installing draught excluders
- placing heat reflectors behind radiators
- basic insulation
All of these can make a dramatic difference to heating bills in the winter months. Roof insulation and wall insulation should then be considered, and a BER assessment will assist with direction on this. When a property owner is happy that their home is property "plugged" then they should then consider the heating requirements to bring it to the next level. Maybe they will decide to invest in an efficent condensing boiler, solar panels or a heat pump - whatever the solution, just make sure you are not just heating the street outside!
If you have any other suggestions on this, please let us know.