Picture this: It’s the middle of winter. You’ve closed the windows, turned the heating up to full blast, and dug out your blankets, but it still feels like your home’s temperature is dropping and dropping, despite those energy bills continuing to rise.
Chances are you’re not losing your mind, and there probably is a legitimate reason why your house feels so cold. Heat could be escaping for several reasons, from insulation issues to problems with your radiators. The good news is that many of these issues are a simple fix!
In this guide, we’ll discuss 8 common causes of a cold home, provide practical solutions for each, and share some top tips for warming up your house.
8 possible causes of a cold house
Now that we’re all warmed up, let’s explore six reasons why your home might be cold and some simple solutions to resolve it.
1. Your radiators aren’t balanced
Unbalanced radiators are a common cause of a cold home. If your radiators are balanced, hot water will flow evenly throughout your heating system, meaning every room will heat up at the same rate.
If your radiators are unbalanced, you might find that some rooms feel too hot while others are left lukewarm or even cold.
Solution:
Balancing your radiators is a simple DIY task that restores even heat to all areas of your home. You can do this by turning off the heating system, checking which radiators heat up fastest, and adjusting the valves on each radiator.
For a deep dive into radiator balancing and detailed step-by-step instructions, read how to balance radiators: The ultimate guide.
If you don’t feel confident balancing your radiators yourself, or your home is still heating unevenly afterwards, a JustFix heating and gas engineer can handle the job quickly and easily.
2. A build-up of sludge in the heating system
Over time, heating systems can collect a build-up of sludge, debris, and rust. This sludge can block your pipes and radiators, making it hard for hot water to flow freely through the system.
As a result, some radiators might not receive enough water to work as they should or might have cold spots preventing them from heating up fully. This leaves your home feeling colder and you paying higher energy bills for less heat.
Solution:
Sludge can be solved by flushing your radiators. You can flush radiators yourself by turning off your heating, draining them, and flushing clean water through them (see our guide: Why is my radiator cold at the top and warm at the bottom? for step-by-step instructions).
If several radiators have cold spots and are heating unevenly, consider a powerflush. A powerflush is a deep clean for your heating system performed by a qualified heating engineer. Powerflushing is an excellent way to restore your heating system’s efficiency; it can make a huge difference to your home’s warmth.
You can find and book a heating engineer to carry out a powerflush through the JustFix app, or, learn more about powerflushing in our comprehensive guide: What is a powerflush? Everything you need to know.
3. An outdated heating system
Older boilers and heating systems can struggle to keep your home warm. They’re less efficient, so they use more energy to produce the same heat as a newer system.
An older heating system is also more susceptible to other issues, such as a build-up of sludge, uneven heating, a slow warm-up time, and inaccurate thermostat control. These can lead to higher energy bills and a colder home.
Solution:
Upgrading your boiler to a newer, more energy-efficient model could save you money on bills, reduce breakdowns, and keep your home warmer. For a rundown on the types of boilers available and tips for choosing the right one for your property, read our guide explaining the different types of boilers.
While a new boiler can be an investment, the long-term savings, warmth, and peace of mind it provides are often well worth it. Ready to make the switch? Our Gas Safe registered heating engineers are on hand to provide boiler installation services with just a few clicks.
4. Trapped air in the radiators or pipes
Similarly to sludge, air pockets trapped in radiators can prevent hot water from circulating properly, leading to uneven heating, increased bills, and a colder home.
If your radiator feels cold at the top but warm at the bottom or makes gurgling noises, trapped air is likely the cause. The good news is that this is a common issue with an easy at-home fix.
Solution:
Bleeding your radiators allows the trapped air to escape, meaning your radiators can heat up fully, and your heating system can operate efficiently.
Simply turn off your heating system, place the radiator key or flathead screwdriver in the valve, and turn it anti-clockwise until you hear a hissing sound (this is the air being released). Once water starts to drip out, close the valve.
For detailed instructions, read our step-by-step guide on how to bleed a radiator. Or, if you don’t feel comfortable bleeding your radiators, you can book a local heating and gas engineer to help.
5. Heat is escaping through windows
Even with the best heating system, a house with draughty windows will struggle to stay warm. Single-pane windows and those with poor seals let in cold air and allow heat to escape, leaving your home feeling chilly even when the heating is on full.
Solution:
For better heat retention, consider upgrading to double-glazed or triple-glazed windows. These windows are better at insulating your home, keeping warm air in and cold air out. If you’re ready to upgrade, use our website or app to find and book a local glazier in minutes.
If your budget can’t quite stretch to new windows, draught excluders are an affordable way to strengthen your window’s seal, whilst thick or thermal curtains can prevent heat escaping. Need help putting curtains up? Our handypeople can lend a hand!
6. Poor insulation
Insulation plays a vital role in keeping your home warm. Without proper insulation in your walls, floors, and loft, the heat your boiler produces will quickly escape. This means your energy bills could be rising without your home’s temperature following suit.
Solution:
If you suspect this could be the cause of your cold home, consider upgrading your insulation. Cavity wall, loft, and underfloor insulation can all make a difference. The government offers grants or incentives for energy-efficient home improvements as a part of the Great British Insulation Scheme. It’s worth checking if you’re eligible for this support.
Proper insulation can make your home much more comfortable and lower energy bills. Ready to find and book a local roofer to insulate your property? Look no further than JustFix!
7. Structural problems
Small cracks in walls, floors, or foundations can allow cold air to seep into the home. Over time, these create persistent draughts that prevent the house from staying warm and can also let out hot air.
Solution:
Inspect for any gaps or cracks around walls and windows. Repair small cracks using caulking or sealant to close them and use expanding foam for larger gaps. Or, find a local handyperson to repair your home and restore it to its former warmth via JustFix.
8. Uninsulated or faulty pipes
If your pipes are poorly insulated, warm air can escape before reaching certain rooms, making your house feel cooler overall. Likewise, leaks in the ductwork can reduce heating efficiency, leading to colder spots in the home.
Solution:
Insulating your pipes is a cheap and straightforward way to reduce heat loss. Pipe lagging can be found at most DIY stores and can help to keep your pipes warm and toasty. Bonus! This can also prevent pipes from freezing, meaning you won’t need to thaw your frozen condensate pipe yearly!
If you notice leaks in exposed pipes or suspect leaks in those you can’t see, you’ll need to get them checked out and repaired as soon as possible. a professional plumber can inspect and seal any leaks to restore your heating system's efficiency.
How to warm up a cold house
Hopefully, you’ll have found the cause of your chilly home in this guide. However, if you’re still struggling to get cosy, here are some additional ways to make your home warmer and more energy-efficient:
- Use draught excluders: Draught excluders come in various colours and styles and can be used underneath doors to help keep cold air out. They’re an affordable investment that can make a noticeable difference.
- Close off unused rooms: Heating rooms you don’t use can waste energy and make it harder to keep the rest of your home warm. You’ll also be paying costly energy prices for heat you’re not even enjoying. Close the doors to any unused rooms and turn off the radiators in them to preserve heat for the areas you use most.
- Run ceiling fans in reverse: Some ceiling fans have an in-built reverse feature. If you have a ceiling fan with this feature, try running it clockwise in the winter. Heat rises, and running a fan in reverse can pull this warm air down. As a result, you’ll be able to use a fan to make rooms feel warmer without increasing heating costs.
- Move furniture away from radiators: Big pieces of furniture like cupboards, wardrobes, beds, and sofas can block heat if they’re positioned directly in front of a radiator. Moving them aside allows heat to disperse throughout the room.
When to contact a JustFix professional
Many common causes of a cold house are easily fixable with DIY solutions. You don’t need to be an expert to bleed or flush your radiators, put up curtains, or repair cracks. However, some tasks do require a professional touch.
For powerflushing, boiler repairs, servicing or installation, and glazing services, you’ll need to get the pros involved. Our accredited heating and gas engineers, roofers, handypeople, and glaziers can provide top-quality services with a 12-month guarantee for your peace of mind.
Whether you need a heating and gas engineer in Sheffield, a glazier in London or a handyman in Essex, our vetted Fixers operate nationwide. Simply use our app or website to book a service at a time that suits you!
FAQs
Why is my house colder than the thermostat setting?
If the thermostat is in a warmer room, it may show that your house’s temperature is higher than it actually is. This could also be because vents or radiators are blocked or because of draughts or poor insulation allowing heat to escape. An older or miscalibrated thermostat could also be reading inaccurately.
Is it cheaper to leave my heating on low all day?
Generally, no. It’s more efficient to heat your home only when needed. Warming the house at specific times using a programmable thermostat or turning the heating on for an occasional boost will cost less than leaving it on low all day.
Why is one room in my house cold?
One room in your house may be colder due to structural elements like poor insulation, high ceilings, the size of the room, and large windows. These elements make it harder to heat a room.
An unbalanced heating system could also be responsible for uneven heating. Try balancing your radiators and see if this resolves the problem.
n available
