In a well-insulated home, windows and other glazed areas let in light, fresh air and frame views, but they can also let out heat and also let in noise, glare, moisture and leaks. So if your planning a renovation, a new house or simply maintaining your existing home, you can minimise these problems:

Make careful choices about the location, size and types of glazed areas in your home. Just closing your curtains or blinds at dusk will stop heat escaping through windows. You can eliminate even more draughts and wasted heat by using an easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors.

Take climate into consideration, your home's orientation towards the sun, and your priorities - comfort, appearance, cost and so on. For a more comfortable home and a worthwhile investment, choose double glazing or fit secondary glazing to your existing windows. It cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill considerably during a year, so choose energy efficient glazing and frames.

Louvre windows are especially vulnerable because thieves can easily take the slats out of the frame. Glue the slats into place, and fit a special louvre lock. Better still, replace them with fixed glass.

A third of burglars obtain entry through a window, so if you are replacing windows, take the opportunity to install new ones that are certified to British Standard BS7950 'Windows of Enhanced Security'. For added security, it may be worth considering upgraded your glass to laminated, as it is extremely difficult to break and gain entry.

ONE CENTRAL 24/7 FREEPHONE NATIONAL HELPLINE: 0800 1120 123

Please note all tips are subject to our website disclaimer - click here to read