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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Michelle Cullen

The €2 DIY upgrade you can do to your windows to make your house a little bit warmer

How households across the country will heat their homes over the coming months has become a cause for concern for many as the cost of living crisis continues.

Energy bills have seen unprecedented highs over the past year as people look for ways to reduce their utility bills and save money wherever possible.

Thankfully, there are a few small things we can do to make our homes more efficiently heated to prevent heat loss and ultimately save us a few bob on our heating bills, according to RSVP Live.

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According to window and door specialists Livingwood Windows , in most houses, windows typically account for 10 per cent of total heat loss.

Window (gettyimages.ie)

Around two-thirds of this is due to the radiation through the glazing, with air leakage coming in as the second biggest contributor, especially from windows with poor insulation.

Poorly insulated windows can be replaced, but this is a significant expense and hassle, so finding a way to sort out those draughts is an excellent short to medium term solution.

One method that has been proven to work is using draught proofing tape to seal up cracks to prevent heat loss.

They can also be used around on exterior doors to prevent cold from the outside coming in and on interior doors to keep heat sealed in one room.

Using these strips can help you get the most out of your heating and might even be able to help you cut down on the amount of time you have to have the heating on for, as you can keep rooms warmer for longer.

The strips have an adhesive backing to allow them to easily stick where they are needed and are made of rubber encased foam to block the draught and absorb the cold.

Draught proofing tape is affordable, with many coming in at just under €10 from online outlets such as Amazon or from local hardware stores.

Even cheaper options are available for as low as €2.00 from wholesale websites like AliExpress and Shein, though these products may not be of as high a quality and may take a long time to arrive at your home due to their long journey overseas to reach your postbox.

Another method to prevent heat loss is to install thick curtains to add an extra level of insulation.

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