Bubble wrap heating homes

Ngongotaha resident Kathy Martin has found a cheap way to keep warm during winter with bubble wrap on her windows and glass doors. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua residents are finding cheap and creative ways to keep their house warm on a budget this winter.

While bubble wrap is more commonly used for fragile packaging, it is also an effective way to add insulation to your house, says Kathy Martin.

Her Ngongotaha home has its windows and glass doors covered in the transparent material and she said she can feel the difference. She bought a large roll at a packaging business for $60.

"We just bought an old house and I read about it online. We only have insulation in the roof and just a fire to heat the place," she said.

"It's much warmer, there is one window that hasn't been done and when you touch [it], it feels really cold compared to the other windows.

"It keeps the heat in but also allows light and heat to come through too. You put the bubble part on the window and it traps the condensation which dries up by the sun during the day."

Mrs Martin said a family member spent $9000 on double glazing his windows and wasn't impressed to hear how little she spent to achieve a similar effect.

Reporoa's Lisa Portsmouth covered 10 windows a month ago using a roll she bought for $20.

"I used to hang sheets up to keep the heat in before I used this. I would say it's about 50 per cent warmer, you can feel the difference," Mrs Portsmouth said.

"We just cut it to the windows' measurements, sprayed a bit of water on the glass and it stuck on. It's been on all winter. It does look pretty hideous and I got a bit of a fright the first couple of times I opened up the curtains in the morning but we don't care."

Rotorua resident Sylvia Tapuke found adhesive foam around window and door frames effective for draught prevention.

"When you shut the door, you would feel that there's a seal. The hot air is not going out of the house, it would keep the heat of the fire in longer. It didn't take long to apply as it had the adhesive strip - you could do a whole house and it wouldn't cost more than $20."

Rotorua's Caraline Abbott, author of blog Frugal Kiwi Mum, said there were many ways to stay warmer for cheaper.

"My top tip would be to consider wearing more layers rather than automatically putting the heat pump on," she said.

"Obviously we're not going to sit in the lounge with winter jackets and snow pants on but when I first met my husband, he would put the heat pump on whenever he was cold - even if he was only wearing a t-shirt.

"Also, make sure you are using an energy efficient device and maintain it well," Mrs Abbott said.

Tips from readers on Facebook on how to keep warm on a budget:

* Insulate your hot water cylinder and put extra padding around water pipes
* Roll up a towel at the base of doors to stop draughts
* Foam strips around doors and window frames
* Shut the curtains as soon as the sun disappears to trap the warmth
* Layers of clothing like an onion
* Have thermal sheets and curtains in the bedroom
* Use hot water bottle