Moving into a new home sure is an exciting prospect. Unless, of course, you’re moving into a freezer. We don’t mean in a literal sense, but if you’re buying a property in winter, it’s essential that you make sure everything is warm as can be from the get go.

Settling into a New Home in Winter: Keeping it WARM

4 Money saving tips to moving into a new home in winter

Moving into a new home sure is an exciting prospect. Unless, of course, you’re moving into a freezer. We don’t mean in a literal sense, but if you’re buying a property in winter, it’s essential that you make sure everything is warm as can be from the get go.
So – once you’ve settled a property and are moving in, what steps do you need to take to save some money during the chillier months?

1. CHECK HOT WATER

Hot water heating makes up almost 21% of every household’s energy bill, according to Origin Energy.

• Check your tap and shower flows. Ensure you aren’t letting money flow down the drain.
• Set the your hot water cylindar at 60 degrees celsius and the tap at no hotter than 55 degrees celsius. It should be hot enough to prevent Legionella bacteria growing, but not so hot that it scalds you when you simply want to freshen up with a shower. This also prevents water bills from escalating during the winter months.
  • 🌟HANDY HINT: If you’re unsure about the temperature, get in touch with a local plumber or electrician, who can help you out. Families with young children may set their tap temperature five to 10 degrees lower than the recommended 55 degrees celsius.
• Take shorter showers (yes, obvious – but shorter showers means long term savings for utilities!)

2. UPGRADE CURTAINS

Whether or not the property will come with curtains will depend on the terms of the contract of sale, so have a look over this first.

• Invest in thermal backed curtains: 
  • ​Thermal curtains have an acrylic coating that ensures your home says toasty during winter. However, they are also great to have during summer, as they help keep the home cool.
  • Some types of thermal-backed curtains have multiple layers of this coating to bump up the insulation factor.
  • Make sure that these curtains are appropriately fitted to the window frame, too.

3. INSTALL INSULATION 

• A well insulated house can use as much as 45% less energy for heating & cooling, which means cheaper utility bills. It can also help prevent damp air from entering your home.

4. PREVENT DRAFTS

• FILL IN GAPS & CRACKS: Gaps in windows and doors can acount for 15 – 20% heat loss in your home. Seal up any gaps or cracks in walls & reinstall weather stripping.
• INVEST IN DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS: About 40% of heat energy escapes via the windows, so try to upgrade to double glazed windows.
  • 🌟HANDY HINT: If you are into a bit of handywork around the house, check out this video from Bunnings on “How To Seal A Window“