When the winter comes, we all tend to reach to turn up the thermostat more often. The cool weather shuts us inside and tempts us to crank up the heat and not worry about it. That certainly works, but then the huge energy bill comes in a month later making us wonder why we drained our bank accounts. There is a lot to be said for smart solutions to heat your home without breaking the bank. To help you keep energy costs down ' even during the coldest months ' take a look at these tips.
Keeping the House Warm in Winter ' Affordably - Dress warmly
This one is easy. Dress in warm and comfortable clothes around the house. For many people, layers are key. Wear long sleeves and long pants as well as socks. Everything should feel comfortable ad warm. If you're dressing in warm clothing around the house, there isn't much need to raise the thermostat to a high temperature. It can stay low and you may still feel fine.
- Keep blankets in each room
If there's a room you spend a lot of time in, consider having two or three blankets within each reach to grab if you feel cold. If you feel warm and cozy due to the blankets and your clothes, there's little need to raise the temperature, helping you to save money throughout the season.
- Check the windows
Before the cold weather hits, be sure to check the windows of the house. Put your hand around the edges to see if you can feel any exceptionally cool air coming in. If you do, then there's an air leak, and that air draught is costing you money. Sealing it is pretty easy. All you need is a putty knife with a rounded corner for spreading caulk, a caulking gun, and some caulk. Squeeze a thin line of caulk along the leaking edge, then spread it evenly with the putty knife. This instantly stops the flow of air and helps to keep your property feeling warmer when you turn the heating on.
- Use your curtains
In winter, you need to use what sunlight you do have. Heat from the sun is free, so make the most of it. Open your curtains and let the sunlight in during the day to make the most of this free heat. When it gets dark, shut your curtains, which act as another layer of insulation to keep the warm air in the rooms.
- Close the vents in unused rooms
Are you wasting money by heating unused rooms? If your home is well insulated and you have a room or two that you don't use as often in the winter, consider turning off the air vent in that room and seal it as best you can. The temperature in that space will drop significantly when you do this as you will no longer be heating it ' or paying to heat it unnecessarily, either.
- Insulate your pipes
Insulating your hot water pipes is a quick and easy way to save energy. As well as reducing heat loss from your system, pipe lagging will also prevent pipes from getting too cold in winter, and therefore, prevents pipes from bursting. Pipe insulation is an easy DIY installation. Buy foam coverings and slip them over any exposed or exterior pipes.
- Use the oven
Stay home this winter and cook something in the oven. Not only will you get to enjoy a winter veg stew or chunky soup, but using your stove will help to warm the house. Now you know just a few ways to keep your home warm without large energy bills this coming winter. With that in mind, you can enjoy the season and stay warmer when at home.
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