Keeping your house warm in winter can be challenging at the best of times. Whether its heat escaping via improperly sealed windows or doors or paying extra heating costs to heat rooms that aren’t being used, unless you stop and look at what your house may be costing you and the energy you are wasting, you may not realize the how much precious heat is escaping your home.
They are a number of things you can do to make rooms warmer without a heater and save on heating costs.
1. Let there be (south-facing) light
There is less light in the winter months, so make the most of what you have. A little extra sunlight can help warm up a room. South-facing windows should have curtains and blinds drawn so the sun can come in. Close them in the evening to add insulation.
2. Seal the drafts
If you feel the cold air or what seems like breeze blowing through your house, you’ve got warm air escaping and cold air coming in. This can drive up heating costs.
If you don’t know what type of weather-stripping or other forms of insulation are in your home or can’t add any because you are renting, a blanket in front of a door can help stop cold air from coming in. By laying a blanket in front of the door, you can stop the loss of heat.
3. Bundle up
You won’t want to dress in a parka or heavy coat while eating dinner. Still, adding cold-weather clothes to what you wear around the house means that you won’t have to turn the heat up to stay warm. Long underwear, sweaters, hats, scarves can all help keep you warm in a cold room.
4. Electric bundle up
Before you slip off to dreamland, keep warm with an electric blanket instead cranking the thermostat. It’s cheaper than heat from the furnace and can be an awful lot cozier. Be sure and take the time to shop for a blanket that has dual-controls.
5. Don’t heat up rooms for guests who aren’t there
If you have spare rooms that aren’t being used at the moment, do not heat them. Extra bedrooms or a guest room with doors open are using valuable heat. Close them off and open them up only when guests come to stay. If you really need to get into the room, just bundle up before you go.
6. Togetherness
Body heat is a way to stay warm without turning up the thermostat dial. Spend time together as a couple or as a family. Sit together under quilts. Watch movies. Have a chat. Be close, and be warm! All of this produces another effect besides lower energy bills, too – affection and personal closeness! The benefits just keep on coming!
These steps can provide short-term solutions to reduce your heating costs. That said you should look into how to insulate your home or apartment for the long term.
Check that your heat source is efficient, and that you’re not losing heat in unintended locations. This can be done at any time of year but its best be done before the winter where the lost of heat is likely to be greatest.
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About Cate Morgan-Harlow
I have two small children and am often amazed at how much heat they can throw off. When we are playing all together in the living room i’m sure that the average room temperature goes up by a few degrees.
-J
Very nice post. The points which you have been mentioned are quiet easy to apply. People can do any thing to avoid the cold. I usually wears woolen clothes for avoiding the cold.