Home heating efficiency: ways to reduce drafts and heat loss

To maintain home warmth and efficiency, residents can implement several low-cost measures before investing in major insulation. Key strategies include optimizing radiator performance by ensuring furniture and heavy curtains do not block heat distribution. Keeping internal doors closed between heated and unheated rooms also prevents heat loss.

Addressing drafts is a critical step. Homeowners should check windows, exterior doors, mailboxes, and floor hatches for air leaks. While sealing gaps with draft strips or sealant can improve comfort, essential ventilation grilles should remain open to ensure healthy air circulation.

Additionally, applying radiator foil behind heaters located against poorly insulated exterior walls can reflect heat back into the room. According to Milieu Centraal, using such foil on uninsulated masonry walls can save approximately 11 cubic meters of gas per square meter annually, based on a gas price of €1.37 per cubic meter.