Home Improvements That Can Help You Save Energy

As part of Energy Saving Week 2022 (which runs between the 17^th and the 23^rd of January), we at DGS have decided to get involved. The campaign seeks to help people cut down on their energy bills with tips and advice.

As double glazing and repair specialists, we can help contribute to the campaign and provide solutions to help you maximise your energy efficiency. Allowing you to save money in an eco-friendly way.

The energy market regulator Ofgem reports that as of April 2021, the average gas and electricity bill amounts to £1,138 a year (or £95 a month), with the cap for energy bills set to rise by £500 this April.

Whilst there are many variables that affect usage, like size of the property and number of occupants. They all have common solutions that involve relatively simple home improvements.

We have a range of products that can assist in conserving your energy usage. This article will take a closer look at them and how they can help.

Double Glazing

Investing in double glazing is a top tip from most energy saving experts. Though it is the norm in most UK homes with 93% of households having it installed, 7% could still mean millions without, so there may still be homes without double glazing or only partially double glazed homes, with one or two windows remaining the single glazed outlier.

Though one window not being double glazed doesn’t seem like much, it can make all the difference. It will allow heat to escape, cold to get in and spread around the house or may mean more energy usage for the overall house, depending on how you use the single glazed room and if you can close it off from the rest of the house.

After all, one open window or door can make worlds of difference to a house, especially in winter.

For all things double glazing, you can check out our window hardware for items that can refresh your existing windows and could save you from replacing your windows entirely.

Window Gaskets and Seals

Keeping a well-insulated house is one of the most important things when it comes to energy saving. Having properly working window gaskets are the perfect complement to double glazed windows.

Gaskets are a long, thin strip of black (sometimes white) rubber that is applied between the glass windowpane and the (usually uPVC) window frame. You may have noticed them before, going all around the window like an outline, without realising how useful they are.

Gaskets act primarily as a weatherproof seal or barrier against harsh elements like rain, wind, and snow. Gaskets will work with double glazed windows to further insulate your home, stopping cold and unwanted draughts from getting in and your expensive heating from getting out of any gaps.

They also provide the bonus of sound and vibration reduction as well as general protection from the cushioning it provides.

As you most likely have double glazing and gaskets already, the key is to make sure they are both working properly. Unfortunately, nothing is exempt from the wear and tear of time, especially something that has worked hard to block out the elements for a long time already.

After being exposed to harsh weather and temperatures for a number of years, gaskets can start to dry out, crack or shrink.

If you can still feel cold and draughts, it’s probably time to replace and update your gasket. Check this first before thinking you need entirely new glazing and frames. There are many different types and shapes of rubber gaskets, so if you can send a sample of yours to DGS, we can help identify and provide a replacement for you.

Seals for Doors

Another solution for insulation, seals for doors will provide another layer of energy saving warmth to your house. Depending on your personal preferences, there are a few different options, you can opt for foam weatherseals that can be used on both doors and windows. Impressively, these seals do not shrink or stretch even in extreme climate conditions.

You also have the option of choosing the wool pile draught excluder. Available in various heights and widths, this can easily be cut to the right length for most internal and external doors. The draught excluder provides a simple energy saving solution which stops heat loss and protects your home from wind and snow, therefore cutting down your energy bills.

Frame Care

Looping back to double glazing, specifically their frames, taking the time to care for these frames could be a big money saver. You may look at your windows and think they need an upgrade. When the truth is they just need some TLC in the form of repairs.

We have a selection of products for frame care that will help you avoid the time, expense and disruption of a replacement. Your windows and frames take a lot of battering from the weather, especially in winter where the outside is exposed to cold temperatures, rain and wind.

Professional products like solutions, sealants, foams and chemical cleaners can be used to keep both good general frame maintenance (which will prevent and fix damage) as well as keeping your frame clean and aesthetically pleasing.

Taking care of your window frames is just as important as any other part of your window if you want to conserve energy through insulation. You also have the added benefit of prolonging the life of your windows.

Save Energy and Money with DGS

At DGS we use our extensive knowledge to undertake specialist repair to almost any type of window and door system. For a long time we have built up stocks of spare parts, including especially unusual and hard to source commercial parts, in order to provide the best hardware repair, replacement, maintenance and improvements.

It’s with this specialist repair we strive to offer a sustainable alternative to most “rip out and replace” approaches. It’s our alternative approach alongside campaigns like Energy Saving Week that provide people with environmentally and financially friendly solutions.

If you’ve been inspired by the Energy Saving Week campaign to re-evaluate or improve your energy saving methods, try some of our suggested products above or for more information contact us today.