Plug the gaps & trap the heat

Autumn is the perfect time to make sure your home will keep you warm and dry over winter. A warm, healthy home helps you avoid getting sick and can keep your power bill down. Mitre 10 can offer the tools and advice needed to plug draughts, trap heat and stay warm this winter.

Window insulation:

Heat escaping through windows can eat away at your electricity bill and can really add up over winter. Using a DIY window film kit can cut heat loss through windows in half and comes at a fraction of the cost of double glazing. Talk to the team at your nearest Mitre 10 about window insulator kits, which come with everything you need for DIY window film installation.

Thermal curtains:

Thick, long curtains can also stop heat escaping through windows. Mitre 10’s Good Living ready-made curtains are made from three tightly woven yarns with black thread used as the middle layer. This layering lets the curtains provide insulation without the need for thermal backing. For maximum heat-saving efficiency, curtains should be drawn at dusk to trap the day’s heat in.

Gaps and cracks:

Heat can also escape through gaps and cracks in exterior walls. Sealing these gaps is easy and makes a noticeable difference in those colder months. All you need is a silicone gun, an applicator and some masking tape. Our DIY expert Stan Scott shows just how easy it is to seal gaps in our Easy As DIY guide series.

To prevent heat escaping under doors, grab a weather seal from your nearest Mitre 10. Weather seals line the bottom of a door and, when closed, prevent cold air from coming in and warm air from going out. Weather seals are easy to install and Mitre 10 stocks a wide range of colours and sizes to suit every door.

Insulation:

One of the most effective ways to make sure your home is warm and dry is by having sufficient underfloor, ceiling, and wall insulation. While installing insulation is one of the bigger jobs when it comes to keeping your home warm, it can still be done without too much trouble. Your nearest Mitre 10 MEGA will stock everything you need to install insulation yourself – from Pink Batts to gloves and disposable overalls.

Keeping your home dry is all part of making sure it’s a healthy environment over the colder months. Simple things such as opening windows during or after cooking or showering makes a huge difference to how much moisture is trapped inside and means you may not need to use a dehumidifier as much, saving you more on your bill in the long run.

Make the most of sunny days by airing bedding outside. Thick, heavy bedding such as pillows and duvets can absorb a lot of moisture during heavy use over winter so it is important to air them out.

Click here to see our Easy As DIY guide series.