Everyone wants to enjoy a cozy home, especially in the dead of winter. With the sun setting early and the thermometer dropping, most people are cranking up heat and lighting up fires daily. While this can keep the cold at bay, it can really beat up the budget. You can use the following tips to keep your house nice and warm all winter long without breaking the bank in the process.
- Drafts can quickly turn a warm space into a cold one. This is especially problematic for older homes that have less energy efficient windows and less insulation. You can reduce the amount of cold that seeps in, and warm air that leaks out, by winterizing your home. Plastic sheeting and draft stopping seals can help and are easy to find at any hardware store. They are also easy to install, making them a quick fix. You can also use rolled up towels under doors that lead outside and to unheated areas, like garages, to further reduce cold air.
- Installing a programmable thermostat is an easy way to manage your heating expenses. You can use these to drop the temperature while you’re away at work, and while you sleep. They can be programmed to turn back up and warm your home before you return or wake up. This lets you reduce heating costs without feeling uncomfortable. While this does come with a cost at first, it saves you money in winter and summer.
- Shut off vents to rooms you do not use to reduce energy cost. This can also push more warm air out through open vents in living areas. This is an easy step to take, and to reverse if you need to warm the space. Just be sure that you close the doors to these areas to reduce drafts. You may even want to put rolled up towels under them, even though they are interior doors.
- If you have wood floors or tile, your home may feel colder than it should. This is because these types of materials stay colder longer, and warm up far less effectively. Instead of cranking up the heat, use throw rugs to make these spaces more warm. Just be careful to use an anti-slip rug gripper to keep your rugs from becoming a hazard.
- Thick drapes can be an easy way to block out the cold of winter while keeping warm air inside. This can be especially helpful with old, ill fitting window frames and less energy-efficient panes. You can use them in conjunction with plastic sheeting for even more energy efficiency.
- Consider how you arrange rooms to optimize your position in relation to vents. For example, you may rearrange your front room to position your couch away from windows and doors, and closer to the room’s heat source. Just be sure that you aren’t positioning things too close to heat sources, like space heaters and fires.
You should also make sure that your heating system is well maintained, and that your system’s air filter is changed regularly. This will improve your systems efficiency, but also help you keep your home warmer for less. If you need help to maintain your system, or to ensure that it is working optimally, we’re always just a call away- (80) 662-4318.
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