Are you looking for ways to make your 3-bedroom house warmer in the winter?
If you’re finding that your 3-bedroom family home just isn’t getting warm enough, and you’re struggling to stay comfortable when it’s especially cold out, I can sympathise. As a heating engineer in Edinburgh, I’ve come across this issue time and time again. Especially as you tend to find a lot of older buildings in the city!
Below, I’m going to list five ways you could potentially make your 3-bedroom house warmer. But first…
Why is my home not getting warm enough?
There are a few reasons why your family home just isn’t keep you as warm as it should. Often, I find 3-bedroom homes which have added conservatories, attic conversions or extensions – all with extra radiators that the original boiler simply can’t handle.
It’s also true that there are many systems still around today which were designed in the ’70s, when bedrooms were designed to be kept at a lower temperature than other rooms. This is because at the time, most people mainly used their bedrooms for sleeping.
Now, children and adults want to sit in rooms wearing a t-shirt and playing with an iPad or sitting at a computer. So, they want the rooms to be the same temperature as the lounge. The radiators just aren’t at a large enough output.
TIP: For more information and ideas, read my blog post ‘5 Reasons Why Your House Isn’t Getting Warm Enough’.
So. what can you do to help make your 3-bedroom house warmer? Let’s take a look, below:
1. Fit larger radiators for extra warmth
If your rooms just aren’t getting up to temperature, despite the radiators getting very hot, it could be a good idea to fit larger radiators. Or fit additional radiators for increased comfort. However, it’s best to consult with an engineer before doing this, to ensure your boiler will be able to handle this.
2. Fit a programmable room thermostat
Programmable room thermostats and smart controls not only allow you to have more control over your home’s heating, they also allow you to set a back temperature. So, rather than turning your heating off completely, you can ensure your home is always kept above a minimum temperature. They’re also fairly easy to install.
3. Check your boiler’s output is fit for purpose
If your boiler’s thermostat is set to maximum, but your home still isn’t getting warm enough, it could be that your boiler is undersized. This is usually a common issue if your property has had extension work or an attic conversion, with additional radiators installed. A higher output, high efficiency boiler should solve the problem.
One of our customer had a 3-bedroom house, built 15 years ago. When the customer moved in, they found the house just wasn’t getting warm enough. The reason was that a few years previously, the original owner had built a conservatory and installed an extra couple of radiators.
Builders have a habit of putting the exact boiler you need, as it saves on money. This means that if you increase the number of radiators, or add new radiators, suddenly the boiler doesn’t have enough capacity to correctly heat the house.
4. Check your radiators are working efficiently
If your radiators aren’t getting hot enough, or they’re only getting hot at the top, it could be there’s a sludge build-up or circulation problem with your system. Your best bet here is to consult an engineer.
TIP: You can also view my blog post, ‘5 Symptoms and Fixes for Boilers Failing to Heat Properly’.
5. Search for any drafts and insulation
Especially if you live in an older property, there’s a good chance your home doesn’t have as much insulation as newer builds. There may also be drafts coming in from ill-fitting windows and doors. It may be worth assessing your insulation levels and checking your home’s heat loss to see if there are any easy fixes.
After all, if you’re losing a lot of heat through drafts and poor insulation, spending more on fuel won’t solve the problem.
There could be areas where you could fit additional insulation, such as under your floors.
Advice from an experienced heating engineer
Still not quite sure why your 3-bedroom home isn’t getting hot enough? The best thing to do is contact a professional heating engineer. They should be able to visit and assess your property before advising on potential solutions.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading. By now you should hopefully have a better idea of ways to make your 3-bedroom house warmer. I’d recommend trying a few of the above tips to see if they could help make a difference to your home.
However, if you’re in any doubt, consult an experienced heating engineer before making any big changes.
Looking for more advice on how to make your 3-bedroom house warmer? Feel free to leave them in the comments, or get in touch with me directly.
