Ideas for insulation

Winter fuel bills seemed to go through the roof last year, and with the current financial situation and oil price, costs don't look like they'll be dropping drastically any time soon. By making sure that your house is well insulated against the cold winter months, you could be helping to save the planet, whilst saving yourself a bit of hard earned cash.

So follow our list of cost-effective ways to shrink your gas bill this year:

Insulate that roof space!
One of the biggest areas of heating loss in a property is through the loft. If there are less than 12 inches of insulation in place, then your loft could be very energy inefficient. The simplest and cheapest way to address the problem is to install some extra basic insulation yourself, by buying paperless insulation rolls and laying them over your existing insulation. This isn't ideal, but it will definitely help reduce heat loss.

Weatherseal your property's doors and windows

PVC windows and doors have helped improve window and door insulation immensely, but heat can still escape, particularly with older PVC models. If you're losing some heat through your window or door edges, a trip to the local hardware store will find you all you need for weatherstripping - a simple way to seal gaps around your home.

Insulate smaller areas with expanding foam

Most houses have little nooks and crannies that let heat escape. But by filling these wherever possible with expansion foam you'll be able to trap that heat, however small, and make a difference to your family's future fuel bills.

Watch out below!

You may have thought that heat can't escape a basement, but you'd be wrong. Basements that have been left unfinished are particularly vulnerable. But there is plenty you can do below stairs to combat this.

Always hangs blinds or curtains

A lot of heat can be lost through windows, but by using blinds or curtains you'll be able to trap the cold air, keeping your house warmer for longer. The thicker the blind or curtain, the more effective it will be.

British Gas is the nation's favourite cheap gas and electricity supplier, boiler service provider, and energy efficiency advisor.