The winter months can get cold in Dublin, and you do not want to be freezing because the cost of heating your home is uncomfortably high. There are ways to prepare your home for these cold and wet months that won’t break the bank when your energy bill falls through your letterbox. Here are just a few suggestions that will help you to keep your home toastie this winter.
Service Your Central Heating System
Central heating systems that need cleaning and maintaining do not run efficiently. Running inefficiently means your system could be costing your more than it should to keep your home warm. Apart from the expense of running your heating, there is also the safety aspect to consider. A faulty boiler could leak carbon monoxide, which is a danger to the whole family. This gas can cause people to feel very ill, and at its worst can prove fatal.
If your boiler is a few years old, it could be time to replace it. All household equipment becomes less energy efficient the older it gets, a fact recognised by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), who offer grants towards the costs of upgrading your boiler.
You should use professionals who are registered to do this type of work, so you have the peace of mind you get from knowing your boiler is safe and running efficiently. A registered gas engineer will be able to provide you with a Gas Safety Certificate for the equipment they have serviced. If you have a gas fire or gas cooker in your home, it is a good idea to get them checked and certified at the same time. All your gas appliances should be serviced at least once a year, or they can become a hazard.
Prevent Water Damage
Water can cause a lot of damage to your home, and what can start as a small drip can quickly become a major leak. Gas Safe can help you to prevent this from happening. Your pipes can all be checked, and you can get advice about protecting your pipes from the cold to help them avoid freezing or bursting during the winter months.
You should also ask Dublin plumbing services to check your drains to ensure they are all flowing freely.
Dublin plumbing services may find problems with your pipes and drains that you were not aware of, which could reduce the risk of you having problems with water during the winter months.
Another potential cause of water damage is from blocked guttering. During autumn, leaves can fall and block your gutters, stopping water escaping to the drains as it should. If the water overflows it can create water damage to your walls internally and externally. Have your gutters cleaned before winter sets in. Have your roof checked for loose or missing tiles too. It doesn’t have to be a large gap in your roof for water to seep in.
Insulation
Between 25% and 35% of heat is lost through an uninsulated roof. That can amount to a lot of extra euros on your energy bills. A lot of heat can also be lost through walls that are not sufficiently insulated. With grants available, ranging from 400 euros to as much as 6000 euros, insulation might not cost you a great deal, but could help keep your home warm and lower your energy bills. The amount of the grant does depend on the type of property you live in and what is being insulated, but the whole range of grants and how to apply for them is shown on the website of the SEAI.
An insulated loft could also mean you notice a difference in the coolness of your home in the summertime. The insulation will lower the intensity of the sun’s rays that are able to seep through to your home, helping to keep the internal temperature lower when it is very hot outside.
Get Rid of Drafts
Doors and windows can be very drafty, especially if they are old and warped or if they are new and have moved slightly as they have settled. Buy some sealing tape and seal any small gaps if they are on the inside. Gaps will not only let warm air out, they will let cold air in, and drafts can be very uncomfortable. If the gaps are on the outside of the windows or doors, some mortar might be needed to fill them. If one of them has moved a lot, you may need a professional to properly put it back in place.
If your windows are single glazed, consider having them changed to double glazed units, as these will help to keep the heat in your home, as well as reduce any noise from outside. They will also add value to your home when you decide to move to a new home.
Call the Experts
If you need your central heating serviced, call GasSafe Engineering Ltd on 01 969 5219. Our friendly and experienced engineers can deal with gas and oil boiler servicing, heating installations, plumbing installations, boiler replacements, appliance servicing, power flushing, as well as fitting new water tanks and refurbishing bathrooms.
With more than 15 years’ experience helping people all over Ireland, our team of engineers includes experts in all the services we offer. We can also deal with all your commercial plumbing needs. Chat to one of our friendly support team, who will answer any of your queries and arrange a free quote for whatever work needs to be done.
If you need our domestic or commercial services and prefer to email rather than phone, the address to use is info@gassafe.ie.
Using the best Dublin plumbing services or the best gas and oil engineers will not cost you a fortune when you get in touch with GasSafe Engineering Ltd.
