Keep Your Home Warm and Save Money in Winter

There are few things nicer than coming home into a warm environment when it's extremely cold outside. But with constantly increasing energy costs, it can be a real worry to turn up the thermostat for fear of the bill at the end of the month. Thankfully, there are ways to be warm in your home while keeping a close eye on your utility bills including these ten tips.

Use Your Curtains

Hanging curtains over your windows or door curtains over your doors can actually do a lot in terms of helping to keep your home warm in the winter months. By closing your curtains during the night, you can help to trap heat in and prevent it from escaping through your windows. You can then open them up in the morning and let some sunlight in to help warm things up. During the day, keeping your curtains closed will also help to block out any drafts that might be coming in through your windows.

Use Heating Timers

If you have central heating in your home, you can use timers to help keep your home warm during the winter months. By setting a timer, you can ensure that your heater will come on before you wake up in the morning and that it will turn off after you go to bed at night. This can help save money on your energy bills and keep your home more comfortable. Another way to increase the efficiency of your heating is by using radiator reflectors. Reflectors are placed behind the gas or electric radiator and reflect heat back into the room rather than letting it escape through the wall. This can help increase the amount of heat in your room without increasing the temperature of your radiator, which can save you money on your energy bill.

Use Rugs or Carpets

Rugs or carpets are a great way to keep your home warm in the winter months, and they provide an extra layer of insulation and can help block out drafts. If you have hardwood floors, consider investing in a few extra large rugs to place in strategic locations around your home.

Maintain Your HVAC

Another way to keep your home warm is to ensure that you are not losing heat through inefficient heating systems. Ensure that your furnace is properly serviced and that any gaps around doors and windows are properly sealed. You may also want to invest in weatherstripping or caulking to further improve the efficiency of your home's heating system. Have your HVAC system checked by highly-trained HVAC technicians to ensure that your HVAC system is well conditioned.

Install Draft Excluders

Draft excluders are designed to fit around doors and windows, and they help to prevent cold air from coming into your home. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, and they can make a big difference in the comfort of your home.

Move Your Sofa

If your sofa is close to an exterior wall, it may be absorbing cold air and making your living room feel colder than it actually is. Move it away from the wall to create more space for heat to circulate, but be careful to ensure that your new room configuration maintains the integrity considerations of any existing heating elements, fireplace areas, cable television outlets, or freesat installation lines.

Use a Humidifier

A humidifier can help a great deal during the winter months. By adding moisture to the air, you can create a comfortable environment that won't make your skin feel dry and irritated. Additionally, using a humidifier, air purifier with essential oils, can also help to relieve congestion and cold symptoms.

Insulation

This could include items like weather stripping and caulking, which can help seal up any cracks or gaps around doors and windows. You might also want to invest in some window film, which can add an extra layer of insulation. Another option is to add some additional insulation to your attic or crawl space.

Reduce Energy Consumption

Using less energy during the winter months can help keep your home warm. This means turning down the thermostat when you're not home and dressing warmly when you are. You might also want to consider using energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, which can help reduce your overall energy usage. By following these tips, you can help make your home more comfortable and efficient during this winter season.

Maintain Adequate Ventilation

During the winter months, it's essential to ensure that you're not trapping moisture inside your home, as this can lead to condensation and mold growth. Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens, and open up doors and windows for a few minutes each day to let fresh air into your home. Most people forget this essential tip.

Wear Warm Clothes

Simply wearing extra layers indoors can keep you and your family warm during winter. If you find that you're constantly cold indoors, try dressing in warmer clothing or adding an extra layer or two when you're at home. You can also invest in a space heater for those particularly chilly days or nights.

Finally, it's important to remember that heat rises. So, if you have rooms that are upstairs or further away from your heating source, they may be cooler than other parts of your house. To combat this, you can try opening up doors between rooms so that heat can circulate more easily. You might also want to invest in a floor lamp with an incandescent bulb; these types of bulbs give off quite a bit of heat, which can help to warm up a room.