As temperatures begin to fall, homeowners are being encouraged to check where their properties could be losing heat before the colder months arrive.

Small gaps, compressed insulation and inefficient heating systems can all make it harder for a home to retain warmth, potentially meaning more energy is needed to keep rooms comfortable throughout winter

Some areas of heat loss may be relatively inexpensive to address. Estimates suggest that professionally draught proofing a standard window costs around £50. However, costs will vary depending on whether the window needs a new seal, an adjustment or a more substantial repair.

Kaitlin Wood Senior Category Manager for Bathrooms, Plumbing, Heating and Renewables at Travis Perkins Plc for Travis Perkins says, “Homeowners often focus on their boiler or thermostat when preparing for winter, but heat can also escape through small gaps and poorly insulated areas around the property.”

1. Use a sheet of paper to identify a weak window seal

A window may appear to close correctly while still having a worn, compressed or poorly fitting seal.

One simple check is to place a strip of paper between an opening window and its frame before closing and locking it. If the paper pulls out with very little resistance, the seal may not be making firm contact in that area. Repeat the check at several points around the frame.

The test cannot diagnose the cause of a draught, but it can identify an area that needs closer inspection. Moving curtains, rattling windows, whistling noises and visible gaps are other potential signs.

The Energy Saving Trust recommends using appropriately sized draught-proofing strips around opening windows. However, the correct repair will depend on whether the problem is a worn seal, a misaligned window, damaged hinges or a gap around the outer frame.

A Rob Haddock, Senior Group Commercial Category Manager at Travis Perkins explains, “The paper check can help homeowners identify where a seal may be weaker, but it does not reveal why the gap has developed.

“A joiner or window fitter can establish whether the window needs a replacement seal, an adjustment or a more substantial repair, helping homeowners avoid applying a product that is unsuitable for the window.”

2. Check whether stored boxes have flattened your loft insulation

Lofts are often used for storage, but placing boxes or boards directly on top of insulation can compress the material and reduce its ability to retain heat.

Where there is safe access and secure boarding, check whether insulation has been flattened beneath stored belongings or pushed aside around the edges of the loft. A tape measure can then be used to compare its depth in affected and unaffected areas.

The Energy Saving Trust recommends a minimum depth of 270mm for mineral wool loft insulation and states that around 25% of a home’s heat can be lost through an uninsulated roof. It estimates that professionally topping insulation up from 120mm to 270mm in a typical semi-detached property costs around £750.

The loft hatch should also be included in the inspection. Even where the surrounding loft is properly insulated, a thin or poorly fitting hatch can create a weak point above the rooms being heated. Visible gaps, movement or a noticeable draught beneath the hatch may indicate that it needs insulating or draught-proofing.

Haddock adds, “Adding more insulation will not necessarily solve the problem if it is then compressed beneath boxes or loft boards. Raised boarding can provide storage space while allowing the insulation underneath to retain its intended depth.

“Insulation that is damp, damaged by pests or covering electrical equipment should not simply be topped up. An experienced installer can assess its condition, ventilation and coverage before recommending the correct improvement.”

3. Check whether radiators heat evenly

Once the heating is running, carefully checking whether each radiator warms evenly can reveal a potential problem.

A radiator that remains cold at the top while becoming warm at the bottom may contain trapped air. Cold areas at the bottom can have different causes, including debris within the system, while a radiator that heats considerably more slowly than others could indicate a problem with its valves or the balance of the heating system.

Homeowners should avoid assuming that every cold radiator simply needs bleeding. A qualified heating engineer can diagnose the cause and establish whether the radiator or wider system requires attention.

Furniture and long curtains should also be kept away from radiators where possible. Placing a sofa directly in front of a radiator or allowing curtains to cover it can restrict how effectively warm air circulates around the room.

Wood adds, “Uneven heat is a symptom rather than a full diagnosis. Turning up the thermostat could make other rooms unnecessarily warm without resolving the original problem.

“A heating engineer can determine whether the radiator contains trapped air or whether there is a problem elsewhere in the system.”

4. Insulate exposed pipes and check the hot-water cylinder

Pipes running through lofts, garages and other unheated spaces can be vulnerable to freezing. Exposed hot-water pipes can also lose heat as water travels around the property.

It’s recommended that homeowners have insulating accessible pipes with correctly sized foam or rubber insulation.

The same guidance recommends checking the insulation around a hot-water cylinder. A cylinder jacket should be at least 80mm thick. Adding an 80mm British Standard jacket to a cylinder with 25mm of existing foam insulation is estimated to save around £40 a year in Great Britain.

Although some accessible pipes can be insulated by a confident homeowner, a plumber can identify which pipes are suitable and ensure that valves, controls and components requiring access remain clear.

Before insulating hot pipes, the heating and hot water should be switched off and the pipes allowed to cool. Homeowners should not remove boiler casings or interfere with the boiler itself.

5. Look beyond windows for hidden draughts

Windows are not the only source of unwanted draughts. Gaps can also develop beneath skirting boards, between floorboards, around pipework passing through external walls and near unused fireplaces.

Floors, skirting boards, pipework and fireplaces are often common sources of uncontrolled draughts.

Flexible filler may be appropriate for some gaps between floorboards and skirting boards because these materials can move slightly over time. However, large gaps and unexplained openings should be assessed before they are filled.

Homeowners should never seal air bricks, extractor fans, window trickle vents or ventilation required for fuel-burning appliances. These features help remove moisture and maintain safe air quality.

As colder weather approaches, carrying out these checks can help homeowners identify areas where heat may be escaping or heating systems are not working as effectively as they could. Tackling problems early also provides more time to arrange professional repairs or improvements before they become more noticeable during the winter months.

While no single improvement will dramatically change a home’s energy use, reducing unnecessary heat loss and keeping heating systems working effectively can help households get more from the energy they use throughout winter.