Can weatherproofing mean cheaper bills?

While weatherproofing may be seen by many households as an important step to take in order to ensure a house does not suffer through the cold winter weather, it could also help consumers to achieve lower home energy bills, it has been claimed.

According to the Independent, with winter just around the corner, weatherproofing can help to reduce the likelihood of both burst pipes and high winter gas and electricity bills.

"This year it's time to invest a little of that hard-earned cash into winterproofing your home. This should bring the bills down, remove those unpleasant draughts and mean that, if you want to wander round your front room in shorts in the middle of December, you can do so without catching your death," the newspaper states.

Simple steps to weatherproof a home

In order to get a house ready for winter and achieve lower home energy bills, there are a number of steps people should consider, the Independent asserts.

The first is to purchase a new boiler, which the article claims is the "most important" investment people can make in their homes as it could save them the most money on gas in the long run.

A condensing gas boiler is the most energy efficient, the Independent claims - and a Gas Safe^TM registered engineer will be able to offer further advice on which boiler will best suit a property's needs.

Meanwhile, lagging water pipes could prevent them from bursting - when the water inside them freezes and expands.

Homeowners are advised to find out where their stop tap is, fix any dripping taps, leave plugs in the sink during frosty weather and keep their central heating running on a low temperature when they are away in order to reduce the risk of pipes bursting.

Winter energy efficiency

While taking such steps could see households saving money on their winter gas and electricity bills and reducing the risk of any damage occurring at their homes, it could also see households boosting their energy efficiency.

Investing in insulation, double glazing and draught excluders can all help to reduce the amount of cold air that leaks into a house and the amount of warmth that escapes.

This means that Britons can turn down their central heating in order to save money and reduce their home energy consumption and carbon emissions, without freezing as a consequence.

All of this could mean that this winter more Britons are able to enjoy a cosy Christmas.