As temperatures begin to drop, you might notice that your home feels colder than it should, even when the heating is on.
For many Irish homeowners, a cold house isn’t simply a case of turning up the thermostat. Heat can escape through the roof, walls, floors, windows and doors, while an inefficient heating system can make it difficult and expensive to maintain a comfortable temperature.
If you’re constantly wondering “why is my house so cold?”, here are six of the most common causes and what you can do about them.
1. Your Attic or Roof Isn’t Properly Insulated
Heat rises, which means an inadequately insulated attic can be a major source of heat loss in your home.
Older Irish homes may have little attic insulation, while others have insulation that was installed many years ago and no longer provides the level of performance expected from a modern energy-efficient home.
Improving your attic insulation can help your home retain heat for longer, reduce unnecessary energy use and make upstairs rooms noticeably more comfortable.
It’s often one of the first areas considered when improving the energy efficiency of an older property.
2. You’re Losing Heat Through the Walls
Your external walls make up a significant part of your home’s exterior, so poorly insulated walls can allow a considerable amount of heat to escape.
The most suitable solution will depend on how your home was constructed.
Some properties may be suitable for cavity wall insulation, while others may benefit from external wall insulation or another insulation system.
External wall insulation can be particularly effective for certain older homes, effectively wrapping the property in a layer of insulation and reducing heat loss through the external walls.
The right approach should always be determined by assessing the individual property.
3. Your Windows and Doors Are Draughty
Can you feel cold air around your windows or underneath your doors?
Older windows, poorly fitted doors and gaps around frames can allow cold air into your home while warm air escapes.
In some cases, improving seals and addressing obvious draughts can help. However, homes with older or inefficient glazing may benefit from upgrading their windows and doors as part of a wider retrofit.
It’s important to look at the home as a whole rather than automatically assuming that replacing the windows will solve every heat-loss problem.
Your walls, attic, floors, ventilation and heating system can all play a part.
4. Your Floors Are Making the House Feel Cold
Cold floors are particularly common in older Irish homes.
Depending on the construction of the property, heat may be lost through suspended timber floors or inadequately insulated solid floors.
You might notice this most in ground-floor rooms, particularly during autumn and winter.
Appropriate floor insulation can help reduce heat loss and improve comfort, but the solution will depend on the type and condition of the existing floor.
5. Your Heating System Isn’t Working Efficiently
Sometimes the problem isn’t simply how quickly your home loses heat, it’s how efficiently you’re producing and distributing that heat in the first place.
An older heating system may take longer to warm your home and use more energy in the process.
Heating controls can also make a significant difference. Modern controls allow you to manage when and where your home is heated rather than heating rooms unnecessarily.
For homes undergoing a more substantial energy upgrade, a heat pump may also be considered.
However, a heat pump isn’t something that should simply be installed in any property. The home’s insulation, airtightness and overall heat-loss performance need to be considered to ensure the system can operate efficiently.
6. Your Home Needs a Whole-House Energy Upgrade
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make is looking at each problem in isolation.
A cold home may not have one single cause.
For example, you could have inadequate attic insulation, heat escaping through the walls, draughty windows and an inefficient heating system all at the same time.
Fixing just one of these areas may improve things, but it might not deliver the level of comfort or energy efficiency you’re expecting.
That’s why a whole-house approach to retrofitting can be so effective.
By assessing the property as a complete system, you can identify where heat is being lost and determine which combination of upgrades is most appropriate.
What Energy Upgrades Could My Home Need?
Depending on your property, potential upgrades could include:
- Attic insulation
- Cavity or external wall insulation
- Floor insulation
- New windows and doors
- Ventilation and airtightness improvements
- Heating controls
- Heat pump installation
- Solar PV panels
The right combination will depend on factors including the age and construction of your home, its current BER rating, existing upgrades and the level of energy efficiency you want to achieve.
SEAI Grants Can Help With the Cost
If your home requires significant energy upgrades, you may be able to access SEAI home energy grants towards eligible works.
Through the SEAI One Stop Shop route, multiple energy upgrades can be combined into one retrofit project, with eligible grants deducted from the overall cost.
House2Home is a registered SEAI One Stop Shop and can manage the retrofit journey from initial assessment through to the completion of works.
Find Out What It Could Cost to Upgrade Your Home
If your home is difficult to keep warm, the first step is understanding where improvements could be made.
With the House2Home Cost Calculator, you can tell us about your property, current BER rating and the upgrades you’re considering to receive an initial estimate for your project.
It takes around three minutes to complete and can give you a useful starting point before progressing to a detailed Home Energy Assessment.
Is your home ready for an energy upgrade? Use the House2Home Cost Calculator today to explore potential upgrades, grants and estimated costs.