Keep a Home warm - Even During Load Shedding
Heading into winter, it's no surprise that we are in for some really cold weather and with load shedding about to become a new normal, you will want to be prepared for the cold while not having any power.
26/04/2022
According to thesouthafrican.com, we are going to be experiencing plummeting temperatures in the very near future - like now. Snowfall is expected in certain parts of the country and some areas are already experiencing their first snowfall. So, what does this mean for us and how are we to stay warm when we also have to deal with load shedding?
It is time to return to an era when our homes weren't kitted out with all the mod cons and we had to make do with what we could get our hands on to stay warm, things such as hot water bottles, fluffy blankets, and fur-lined slippers. Whether you fancy the idea or not, staying warm at home is going to be a priority when the temperatures drop, and you need to stock up if you want to stay cosy.
Get to Builders now for essentials
Insulation is now, more than ever, a top priority. Not only has climate change brought about floods and torrential rain, but it has also shown us that things are going to get very cold in the future. There is only one thing that can be done now to ensure a home stays warm and that is to take steps to insulate a house.
• Wrap your home in a blanket
Insulation covers putting ceiling insulation down in the attic to prevent both heat loss and gain. A blanket of Think Pink or other insulation will help to keep your home warm and reduce heat loss as you heat up the home.
Ceiling insulation might not be as expensive as you think and it would be a worthwhile investment for both summer and winter.
• Don't let heat escape
Windows and doors are guilty of letting heat escape from the home. A window frame that isn't properly sealed around the frame or panels that don't sit flush with the frame let out a lot of heat. And doors that are not flush to the floor let in cold draughts that will instantly sap the heat from a room. Use acrylic sealer or foam insulation to fill gaps around frames and self-adhesive rubber sealing strips where there are any gaps around windows and doors. At the bottom of a door where cold gets in, fit a door sweep or draught excluder. This 5-minute job is well worth the effort, and you can find what you need at any Builders store.
Installing a draught excluder or door sweep will only take around 5-minutes to complete - well worth the effort.
• Heat could be floating away
The heat inside the home could be floating away up the chimney or draughts coming down the chimney will be preventing a room from heating up. If you have a fireplace and don't make use of it, look at having it sealed off at the top. This is not a permanent solution and can easily be removed should you decide to use the fireplace again in the future.
If you are not using your fireplace, seal it off because the heat in your home could be floating up the chimney.
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• Heat a home with gas
When the power is out, there isn't an easier way to heat the home than with gas. If you have taken the above measures to keep out draughts and prevent heat from escaping, heating a home using gas lets you and your family stay warm when there isn't another option. Note that there should be some air circulation in the room when using a gas heater. And if you are not hiring a gas cylinder for the heater, don't forget to add one to the shopping list. Many garages and hardware stores offer a gas-filling service where you swap empty gas cylinders for full ones.
Take advantage of the promotional offers at Builders on a wide selection of gas heaters to keep you warm during the cold winter.
• Unpack the blankets
If you haven't already done this, it is time to unpack the winter blankets and refresh them for the months ahead. Even if you have a gas heater to keep the house toasty and warm, wrapping up with a blanket or throw means you will use less gas to heat up.
• Dress up warm
Don't consider slippers as silly when they could be keeping your feet warm when you move around the house. You don't need to buy a pair with fluffy ears or pom-poms, but a basic pair of slippers will warm you up.
• Close yourself in
All the insulation in the world will not keep you warm if you keep doors open. The larger the space to heat the less heat there will be, so close the doors on the room that you in and let the heat build-up. Note that there should be some air circulation in the room when using a gas heater.