How to make your terraced home more energy efficient without major renovations and still feel comfortable year-round

Terraced homes have a particular kind of romance to them. Rows of brick and stone, chimneys like punctuation marks, a sense that your walls have soaked up a century of conversations, winter storms and Sunday roasts. But they also have a very modern problem: keeping warm in winter, cool in summer, and comfortable year-round without sending your energy bills (and carbon footprint) into orbit.

If you’re renting, on a tight budget, or simply not ready for scaffolding and dust sheets, the idea of “energy efficiency” can feel out of reach. The good news? It isn’t. There is a surprising amount you can do in a terraced house without touching the structure – no external wall insulation, no new windows, no ripping up floors – and still feel noticeably more comfortable.

Think of this as a gentle tune-up of your home, rather than a full engine rebuild.

Understanding where terraced homes lose (and gain) energy

Every terraced house is a little different, but many share the same weak spots:

Single-glazed or older double-glazed windows at the front and back

Exposed front and rear walls, often solid brick with poor insulation

Draughty gaps around floorboards, skirting boards and doors

Uninsulated or poorly insulated loft spaces above bedrooms

Open or unused chimneys that act like giant ventilation pipes

The flip side is that mid-terrace homes often benefit from their neighbours’ heat on both sides. You may already be more energy efficient than an equally sized detached home, if only you can tame those leaks.

Before you change anything, spend a few days just observing your house like a curious guest. Where do you feel a cold draft on your ankles? Which room heats up too quickly and then cools just as fast? Where does the sun fall in winter, and at what time does your living room become a greenhouse in July?

This quiet, observant phase is your most powerful (and free) energy audit.

Start with the simplest fix: chasing draughts, not heat

Heating a draughty terraced house is a bit like filling a colander with hot water. You don’t need more water. You need fewer holes.

Without any building work, you can dramatically cut the amount of warm air escaping – which usually improves comfort even more than fiddling with the boiler.

Focus first on doors and keyholes

Add brush or rubber strip draught excluders to the bottom of external doors.

Use self-adhesive foam or rubber seals around the door frame to stop whistling gaps.

Cover keyholes with simple keyhole covers – tiny detail, but you’d be surprised how much cold air can sneak through.

Standing by the front door on a windy evening with a lit incense stick or a strip of tissue can reveal exactly where air is streaming in.

Then move to skirting boards and floorboards

Use flexible caulk along gaps between skirting boards and floorboards.

For visible cracks in wooden floors, consider a removable gap filler rope or sealant made specifically for floorboards.

Lay thick rugs with underlay in the coldest rooms (especially over suspended timber floors) – it’s like giving your feet a woollen jumper.

In many old terraces, you can feel cold air seeping up between boards from the ventilated void beneath the house. Rugs and sealing don’t replace proper underfloor insulation, but they can make rooms feel several degrees warmer for a tiny fraction of the cost.

Don’t forget your letterbox and cat flap

Fit an internal letterbox brush and an external flap with a good seal.

If you have a cat flap, choose one with a magnetic or brush seal to minimise draughts.

Sometimes, the biggest difference in how “cosy” a front room feels comes from this humble rectangle of metal, not a bigger radiator.

Taming chimneys without closing them forever

If you have an unused fireplace, your chimney may be quietly exporting your heating budget into the sky. Yet many people hesitate to block them; they love the original features, or dream of one day installing a wood burner.

You don’t have to make a permanent decision to enjoy a warmer room now.

Try a removable chimney balloon or draught stopper

These fit inside the flue and can be installed or removed in minutes.

They’re usually inflatable or made from shaped insulation with a handle for easy retrieval.

Always leave a little gap for ventilation to avoid moisture build-up.

You’ll feel the difference the next time you sit near that fireplace on a windy night. The room will feel calmer, quieter and distinctly less chilly.

Windows: making the most of what you already have

Replacing all the windows in a terraced house is expensive and disruptive. But old or single-glazed windows don’t automatically doom you to shivering. With a few layers – much like dressing yourself for winter – they can perform surprisingly well.

Upgrade your curtains, not your frames

Choose lined, floor-length curtains with a thermal backing for living spaces and bedrooms.

Ensure curtains overlap the window frame on all sides, not just just brushing the glass.

Use a curtain pole that extends beyond the window edges to minimise gaps.

At night in winter, think of closing the curtains as “putting your windows to bed”. You’re trapping a layer of air between glass and fabric that acts as free insulation.

Add low-cost “secondary glazing”

Use clear magnetic secondary glazing panels that can be added seasonally.

Or apply high-quality, transparent plastic film kits with double-sided tape and a hairdryer to shrink them tight.

For sash windows, brush seals along the moving parts can cut drafts without changing their appearance.

The visual difference is minimal, but the sensation of sitting near the window on a cold day changes from “edge of the Arctic” to “cosy reading nook”.

Harness winter sun, block summer glare

In winter, keep south-facing curtains wide open during the day to let the sun warm internal walls and floors.

In summer, use light-coloured blinds or sheer curtains to diffuse harsh sunlight while maintaining privacy.

Your terrace may not have vast expanses of glass, but even a modest bay window can become a passive solar panel when you pay attention to how light moves through the rooms.

Smarter heating without touching the boiler

You don’t need a brand-new heat pump or boiler to heat your terraced home more intelligently. Often, it’s the control system – not the heat source – that wastes energy.

Install a programmable or smart thermostat

Set lower temperatures at night and when you’re out, with gentle warm-up before you wake or return.

Aim for a consistent, moderate temperature rather than wild swings from very cold to very hot.

If you choose a smart thermostat, use “eco” or “away” modes instead of turning the system fully off.

Older terraces can feel like they “leak heat” so fast that people overcompensate by blasting the boiler. A smarter thermostat helps you warm the house just enough, just when you need it.

Use thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) strategically

Fit or check TRVs on individual radiators so you can tailor each room’s temperature.

Keep living areas at a comfortable level, bedrooms slightly cooler, and rarely used rooms at a frost-protection setting.

Avoid covering radiators with heavy furniture or long curtains – they need space to breathe.

This is zoning without the renovation. Instead of heating the entire terrace as if every room is equally important, you focus warmth where life actually happens.

Add reflective radiator panels on external walls

Place thin reflective foil behind radiators on external walls so heat reflects back into the room.

This is particularly useful in front rooms or rear kitchens that back onto uninsulated walls.

It’s a quiet upgrade – you’ll rarely see it once installed – but it nudges the balance of radiation from “feeding the brickwork” towards “warming the people”.

Hot water: the hidden energy guzzler

Terraced homes with older hot water cylinders and long pipe runs can lose a lot of heat before you even turn on the tap.

Give your hot water cylinder a “coat”

If you have a hot water tank, check how thick the insulation is.

Add a dedicated cylinder jacket if it feels warm to the touch – the hotter the surface, the more energy you’re losing.

This simple change can save surprising amounts on your bill and keep water hot for longer, meaning your boiler works less.

Insulate accessible hot water and heating pipes

Use foam pipe insulation (lagging) on exposed hot pipes in cupboards, basements, and lofts.

Secure with tape at joints, especially near bends or valves.

It’s not glamorous DIY, but turning a lukewarm airing cupboard into a stable warm space can make laundry dry faster and towels feel less damp in winter.

Rethink how you use hot water daily

Opt for short showers rather than baths most of the time.

Use aerated taps and efficient showerheads to reduce flow without sacrificing comfort.

If you have a timer, heat water only for the periods you need it, not 24/7.

None of this changes the structure of your terrace, but your boiler will quietly thank you.

Staying cool in summer without air conditioning

Terraced homes can swing from icy in winter to stifling in summer, especially loft bedrooms under dark tiles. Yet installing air conditioning can be expensive and energy-intensive.

Master the art of night purging

On hot days, keep windows and curtains mostly closed during peak sun hours to block radiant heat.

As evening temperatures drop, open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross-breeze.

Use internal doors to guide air flow: crack open bedroom doors to allow cooler night air to drift through.

You’re turning your terrace into a lung: inhale cool night air, exhale built-up daytime heat.

Shade first, fan second

Use external shading where possible – awnings, balcony plants, or simply hanging a light-coloured fabric outside during heatwaves.

Inside, use reflective blinds on south- or west-facing windows to bounce heat back out.

Combine a standard fan with a bowl of ice or a cold water bottle to create a gentle cooling effect without cranking up power usage.

Placed near a window at night, a fan can help draw cool air in and push warm air out, making upper floors bearable even in late summer.

Lighting, appliances and everyday rituals

Energy efficiency in a terraced home isn’t just about big leaks; it’s also about the background hum of daily life.

Switch to LED lighting throughout

Replace old halogen or incandescent bulbs with warm-white LEDs.

Use dimmable LEDs in living areas to adapt the atmosphere – soft in the evening, bright for tasks.

You’ll use far less electricity and generate less unwanted heat in summer.

Be deliberate with appliances

Run washing machines and dishwashers full, on eco modes, at lower temperatures where possible.

Use lids on pans, match hob size to pan base, and switch off the oven a few minutes early to use residual heat.

Unplug or fully switch off energy-hungry devices in standby where practical.

None of this is new advice, but in a compact terraced home, the heat and moisture produced by appliances can completely change how the space feels – both positively in winter and uncomfortably in summer.

Small investments that punch above their weight

You might not be up for scaffolding, but a few modest upgrades can still be transformative.

Top up easily accessible loft insulation

If your loft is simple to access and has visible joists, check the depth of insulation between them.

Adding extra rolls (while maintaining ventilation at the eaves) can significantly reduce heat loss through the roof.

This is one of the biggest comfort gains per pound spent in most terraced houses, especially for the bedrooms directly below.

Use room-by-room portable solutions

Electric heated throws or blankets allow you to stay warm in the evening without heating the whole house.

A small, efficient dehumidifier can make a cool room feel more comfortable in damp weather, especially in basements or north-facing spaces.

Comfort is not just about temperature; it’s also about humidity, draughts, and how your body experiences a space at rest.

Let your home evolve with you

A terraced house is rarely “finished”. It’s more like a long, slow conversation between you and the building. One winter you might notice how the wind snakes under the back door; another summer you may discover that drawing the kitchen blind at 10am keeps the whole ground floor cooler.

Instead of chasing perfection, think in terms of layers of small improvements:

First, stop the most obvious draughts.

Then, give your windows and doors better “clothing”.

Next, teach your heating and hot water system some manners with smarter controls.

Finally, adjust your own routines to work with the building, not against it.

Little by little, your terraced home stops feeling like a battlefield between you and the weather, and more like a trusted cocoon – warm without waste in January, and calm and breathable in July.

On a future winter evening, you may find yourself sitting by the front window, curtains drawn, a rug warming your feet, the gentle ticking of a well-balanced radiator beside you. Outside, the wind may still rattle down the street, past the rows of chimneys and brickwork. Inside, though, you’ll feel that quiet, satisfying sense that your home is working with you now, not against you – no major renovations required.