How to keep house warm in winter- Homeowners can expect snow and freezing temperatures as the winter season arrives. If you are in Texas you do not have to worry about extreme cold, but it does not mean that you will not experience a cold day or night.
Winter is dark, damp, lengthy, and costly, at least when it comes to home heating. Every year, the cost of heating oil climbs, and electricity is not cheap. How can we save money and keep the house at a comfortable temperature? Below we have mentioned a few easy steps that can help you keep your humble home as warm as you want to have.
How to keep House Warm in Winter
1. Insulate Your Windows, Doors, and Attics
A window is a significant heat loss area in your house, with some estimates suggesting that 12 percent of all heat goes their way. Drafty windows, doors, and attics let cold air in and pull warm air out, whether you are in a new house or an older one. To keep the heat inside, it is essential to seal up any leaks. Start by testing the weather around your windows and doors, and if you find them too cold, seal the air leaks immediately.
2. Insulate Your Home
It may seem like a gimmick, but it’s far from that! A well-insulated home will help to keep your living room as cozy as possible, regardless of what time of year it may be! For example, insulation will help keep all of that precious warmth locked within your home when you have your heater on in the winter. Another advantage is that it can help reduce your heating (and cooling) costs by insulating your entire humble abode. As described before, insulation acts as a barrier and makes it nearly impossible for heat (or cold air) to escape.
3. Flush & insulate your water tank
Make sure your water heater works properly. These should be flushed thrice every year so that they are ready for use before winter starts. Save fuel by covering the water heater in an insulated blanket and setting the temperature to 120 degrees.
4. Thermostat
During the winter months, it’s tempting to set your thermostat at a comfortable 75 degrees, but this is a surefire way to increase your energy expenses. The lower the setting, the more savings you can have. It has been noticed that you can save around 15% in energy cost if you keep your thermostat at 68 degrees. You can still wear a sweater and slippers to stay warm if 68 degrees seems cold.
If the thermostat is set to 62 overnight, your energy bill will save you even more. And, if you’re out for a few days, turn the temperature down to 55; without the pipes freezing, this is the lowest setting you can use.
5. Fireplace
Fireplaces are excellent sources of heat and, in a matter of minutes, can warm a room. Snuggling up in front of a fire with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book is an excellent way to spend a cold winter evening as well. Fireplaces do, however, have their disadvantages.
A fireplace damper left open while not in use is an invitation for hot air to escape and cold air to get into your house. After each use, close the damper and, more importantly, open it before you light a fire, or smoke will fill your home.
6. Do a quick energy audit and check for air leaks
Fall is also a perfect time to consider a professional energy audit and check the seals for doors and windows. Hold a candle in front of possible drafts. You’ve got an air leak if the flame wavers. Seal a leaking door inside the doorframe by adding foam or felt weather stripping. Covering the windows with plastic is an inexpensive way to block out draughts if you do not have double pane windows.
7. Ceiling Fans
High ceilings are fantastic, but when the warm air rises to the top of the building, they will raise your heating bills. Adjust the blades’ direction if you have a ceiling fan; set it to force the air down along the walls by reversing the fan’s flow. It will heat the room more uniformly by circulating warm air back through the room and ease the effort your heater requires to keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
8. Upgrade Your Heating System
Has your existing method of heating seen better days? If so, the ideal time to upgrade to a new, powerful heater will be now! Modern heating systems have come a long way, just like technology; they will require fewer cycles to achieve and sustain the target temperature, they will be more environmentally efficient, and so much more.
9. Insulating the Roof
Foam, fiberglass, or wool insulation should be built inside, and rigid insulation boards should be installed over the rafters to insulate the actual roof, the most critical heat loss point in winter.
As it’s a pretty big job, we highly suggest having an insulation expert to make sure it’s done correctly.
10. Tips to Keep the House Warm Without Heat
- Seal Off Drafty Rooms
It is not just weatherproofing your front door that will keep your home warm and cozy in the winter months. It will prevent warm air from wandering into unheated rooms by installing weather stripping around doors and using draught excluders underneath doors.
- Electric Blankets
Your eyes feel heavy, and you’re ready to sleep. It’s been a long day. Then, you’re greeted by cruelly cold sheets when you get under the covers. To the rescue, electric blankets! It will build the coziest cradle to rock you to sleep by simply switching the blanket on for 10 minutes before you go to bed.
- Wrap up Warm
Perhaps the most obvious addition to this list, wrapping up warm will be sure to increase those coziness levels. Crucially, rather than just thicker clothing, these are the layers you want to wear. It is because the air that is trapped within the clothing layers acts as thermal insulation.
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