Old houses are full of charm, but being draughty in winter is not one of them. If you’ve invested in a Victorian house, don’t let the winter chill make you want to put your new home straight back on the market. The following tips will help you stay warm in your charming old house without paying through the nose for expensive heating solutions.

Draft-proof your chimney

Many period houses are graced with beautiful fireplaces in almost every room. While a fireplace with an antique mantelpiece can be an attractive centrepiece, a disused fireplace will let in the cold. Remember, warm air from your house rises, while chilly outside draughts move downwards. If your old house has several fireplaces you don’t use, it’s well worth stuffing the chimney spaces with thick fabric, or fitting an inflatable chimney block. You won’t be able to see this extra protection, but you’ll certainly feel the difference in winter. Just don’t forget to remove the chimney stuffing before you decide to light a fire! Another way to warm your old home from the exterior is to think about installing solar panels. In this case, you’ll want to contact professional Solar Panel Installers who can get the job done right. The good news is that you’ll also save money on your energy bills over time.

Treat your windows and doors

Victorian houses are not known for their double-glazing. If you’ve just taken ownership of an old house, chances are those original sash windows are letting a lot of heat out and a lot of cold in. Likewise, those old doors are unlikely to seal properly, costing you precious warmth. The most effective way to solve this issue is installing New Windows & Doors, but there are other options available if you’re not ready to part with original fittings.

Many people cover their windows with cling film, but if you’ve gone to the trouble of purchasing a Victorian house, you’ll probably prefer a more tasteful option. One such solution is to hang heavy blinds or lined curtains to help insulate the window space. Shop-bought heavy curtains usually have a modern, functional appearance, so custom-made curtains are your best bet if you want the cold-blocking effect without sacrificing on the period style. You’ll be able to specify additional features such as blackout backing for bedrooms or extra layering for a billowy look in your front room.

If you live in a really cold place, a storm door is a good option for exterior doors. Let’s be honest: storm doors are not the most attractive looking things. You might want to keep your front door uncovered, but covering your back door might be a good option in the interests of keeping warm.

Mind the gap

One of the most desirable features of old homes are the polished wooden floorboards down passageways that go on for miles. While wooden floorboards make for a characterful hallway, they’re often not perfectly flush and can let in cold air. What’s more, floorboards in Victorian houses usually sit on supports that stand a foot or so above the foundations of the house. This means that unless you have taken the trouble to insulate below ground level, there’s nothing stopping the chilly air under the house coming up between the boards. If your floorboards are especially draughty, consider fitting thin strips of plastic tubing into the gaps. While you might expect this to look unattractive, you should not be able to see the tubes once they’ve been fitted, as they’ll be hidden in the shadow between two boards.

Your other option is carpets. Wooden floorboards add so much character to an old home, so you’d be mad to carpet over them fully. Smaller, stylish rugs can be used to cover areas of particular concern. While you might spot some of the main cracks easily, a barefoot stroll down your hallway on a cold day should reveal any that you’ve missed.

Tackle the walls

Did you know that up to thirty-five per cent of your home’s heat is lost through the walls? If you’ve bought an old house to renovate from top to bottom, you have extra opportunities to insulate. Consider dry lining your walls with insulated plasterboard if you’re going to strip down to bare brick for the purposes of your renovation. Plasterboard has a foam backing that comes in a range of thicknesses. Unfortunately, this means that your newly finished room will be a little smaller than before, so this may not be the best solution for the tiny nooks and crannies of your Victorian home. However, the larger front room and master bedroom will surely benefit from the extra warmth without the extra space being missed.

Whether you’ve bought a fixer-upper or a majestic, well-kept home, your Victorian house might be a little nippy. These tips will help you plug the gaps and keep the warmth inside.

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