Where are you located as well - urban, village etc. Is it mains gas you are on?

What are your floors like - timber suspended and can you get underneath them?


As ever, some reductions can be very cheap - airtigtess/draft proofing can be as simple as newspaper pushed in the gaps of skirtings, curtains over doors, those 'sausage dogs' at the base of doors, filling any other gaps with filler etc etc. We found when we moved in here that some places like Oxfam had amazing good, heavy curtains that seemed new - ideal for keeping lots of heat in - and were £10-£20 a pair for big uns.

Do things like keep curtains closed when you are out.

Insulation can be very cheap - contact you energy supplier and council and see what they can do for your loft - they may offer 50-100% of the cost depending on your situation, well worth a few phone calls. Failing that B&Q et al do lots of energy company subsidised deals 2for1 on insulation rolls. You can also get free energy light bulbs -I have a cupboard full as I keep going to 'green' events that give them out free....Insulation can also be gained by skip diving and site scrounging - go to all the big building sites and offer to take their waste away free- I did about 50% of a terrace house's insulation for free from a few big sites in Sheffield a few years back....

Depending on location, eg Scotland, you can also get big grants towards heating systems.

Check out Centre for Alternative Technology and South Yorkshire Energy Centre for some advice as well.

Hi Matt,
We're in Bradford, so urban, and yes we do have mains gas.
Not sure about the floors.
Already had a look at grants etc, but I don't think we're entitled to any.
I don't think we can have loft insulation, as it's an attic conversion.
I liked your idea about lined curtains, and keeping them shut, also getting draught excluders in rooms.
Where are common trouble spots that let heat escape / cold get in?


Hi Chris,
Thanks for the input, but it's still a bit above our budget. If we can't find anything cheaper, we will definitely look into this, but I'm hoping for something a bit cheaper.

Forgive me for saying this as I don't know your financial circumstance but two things leap out at me. Other buyers should heed..

When you buy a house you really take into acount the cost of any improvements needed like heating & insulation as they are capital items. If you can't afford to install CH it means the house was probably too expensive for you.

Generally best to install heating and insulation before decorating (or even buying furniture).

I am a complete novice I am looking to get sorted with a multifuel boiler stove to heat 6 approx radiators and domestic water, whilst cooking a pot for dinner on top plate. I am over 50 I am not able to cut trees etc., and have no supply of timber, mind you I would consider growing reeds to harvest and dry out when i get going thats another story. I live in rural place this is for a wooden log cabin type house i will be in all day. I would like something that will be tempature controled and use a ecofan to generate the warm air around my home which is mostly open plan 40' x 12 in size. I would like if anyone could give me a few pointers to get me started, I live on my own with several pet friends who also like to see and feel a nice live fire burning away in the corner, I wuld like to have solar panels as well for the summer time but this would be another project I could not afford this just now.