Archive for category: Tips

The atmosphere of winter is cosy evenings, cosy sweaters, pretty coats, snow angels, hot chocolate, and an excess of coffee and soup. Sadly, this season isn’t always as bright as Christmas lights and fireworks.

Winter also means a constant runny nose and tons of snow piling up the driveway! Of course, extremely cold weather can also lead to hypothermia if you don’t have a proper heating system.

But what can you do to negate the unpleasant effects of the winter season? Here are seventeen suggestions for the best cost-effective ways to remain warm during the winter.

17 Ways to Stay Warm in Your Home During Winter:

Insulate Your Doors

Whether your door is new or old, installing draught-proofing strips between the door and the frame could still be beneficial. Both internal and outdoor doors can use this.

You can purchase a specialised “brush” or hinged-flap draught excluder to fill any gaps between the bottom of the door and the floor. To cut down on wind between rooms, you could also place a simple plush excluder in front of the door. Alternatively, you could choose a cute novelty pattern.

Use Thick Curtains

If your windows are single-glazed, thermal-lined curtains can help you keep the cold out more efficiently. Make sure your curtains are lined if thermal curtains aren’t in your price range.

Generally speaking, the thicker the better, and blackout curtains are excellent at hiding heat. This curtain concept is brilliant and ought to help on chilly mornings when your heater may have been turned off overnight.

Use Rugs on the Floor

Rugs will keep your feet warm and prevent heat loss, and they also present a wonderful opportunity to add personality to your home. A heating mat that you can put under your rug is an option if you want to take things a step further, but it can be very pricey.

Install Insulation

Insulate the ducting and hot water/radiator lines that pass through non-living spaces. You want the heat to warm up your house, not escape into a utility room or crawl space.

Insulation for pipes is not only used for exposed pipes. It can be used to block drafts along the bottom of an interior or exterior door. Installing 25 cm of insulation across your loft can quickly minimise heat.

Draught-Proof Windows

Draught-proofing windows is a straightforward DIY project in addition to knowing how to insulate your home. All you have to do is wrap a window frame in self-adhesive foam tape (or ask a local handyman to do the job).

This simple-to-apply tape should stop any drafts from entering your windows. These help to further conceal the heat inside your house. As a result, you shouldn’t need to switch on your heating as frequently (or as high). It’s also simple to remove if you rent a home or when it’s summer and you’re welcoming the drought with open arms with your fan on full.

Take Advantage of Flexible Heaters

An excellent energy-free option to remain warm is using a heater. Markets have a variety of gas- and electricity-powered custom heaters or flexible heaters.

To warm up specific parts of the house, you must schedule when to switch on and off these flexible heaters. After that, all that is left to do is take the precautions mentioned above to maintain the temperature of the rooms.

Close Windows and Doors

This one can sound overly simple, but that’s also why it’s simple to forget. A room can lose heat quickly through open doors, which increases the likelihood that the central heating will be turned on later in the day. You may instantly make your home feel warmer by simply closing the doors. Of course, windows also fall within this rule.

Rearrange Furniture

Your favourite chair may feel wonderful next to the radiator, but it is absorbing heat that could be warming your house. You may allow hot air to freely circulate by relocating it away from the radiator. To get the most out of your heat source, use the same advice while hanging curtains and dry clothing: keep them away from the radiator.

Use a Smart Thermostat

By interacting with your boiler, a smart thermostat regulates the temperature in your house. Thermostats can deteriorate over time, especially in older homes with antiquated heating systems.

Using a thermostat with a timer is a quick and easy way to properly control your heating. Modern thermostats can be controlled from your smartphone. This enables you to ensure that your house is comfortable when you get home. This is part of the smart home trend. Some of them are designed to use less energy, so when you leave the house, they will automatically switch off.

Use Candles

While candles can’t heat an entire room on their own, they can surely warm the air around them and instantly make a space feel cosier.

Candles can be decorated by arranging them in groups on your coffee table ideas or next to your living room fireplace ideas so that they emit more heat as they burn. When candles are lit nearby, curling up on the couch will feel cosier.

Use an Electric Blanket

You can be sure that the best electric blankets will keep you from feeling cold on a chilly winter evening. If you want to feel the warmest, choose an under-electric blanket that rests on top of your mattress.

Alternatively, you can transfer an overly electric blanket from your sofa to your duvet to keep you warm whenever you need it. Depending on the model, electric blanket operating expenses might vary, but they are generally less expensive than other types of heating.

Open Vents

Closing vents in rarely used rooms might make your home seem colder even if it may seem like a simple approach to control costs. Even with those vents closed, your HVAC system will continue to circulate warm air, increasing your system’s workload and decreasing its efficiency. Blocked vents might result in damage. It can also result in costly air leaks.

Use a Radiator Shelf

The addition of a shelf directly above a radiator enhances the radiator’s ability to disperse heat more evenly. The shelf serves almost like a shield, helping to redistribute heat away from the radiator rather than allowing it to rise to the ceiling, as suggested by Michael by placing one just over a radiator.

Block Chimneys

You can start to notice an excessive drought coming from the chimney as the weather changes. Although fireplaces might be the centre of attention in a living area, an open chimney can also cause unwelcome draughts and heat loss.

In certain situations, blocking a chimney can be your only option. But you must take care to do it well, never shut up the top of the chimney, especially if you use your fireplace. As this will trap the heat inside the chimney and can lead to significant overheating.

Seal Extra Windows and Doors

You don’t need to utilise additional doors or windows for ventilation in the winter. This is because they cause heat that has been generated by heaters or other energy sources to escape. Therefore, to keep heat in homes, use plastic sheets or window decals with temperature control characteristics.

Reverse the Ceiling Fans’ Direction

Few people are aware that ceiling fans can be useful in the winter as well as the summer when they are typically utilised to obtain cool air. The warm air is forced downward while keeping the cool air upward by rotating the fan clockwise by flipping the motor’s side.

Use Furnace Filters

To see if your furnace filters are in good operating order, check them out. To increase the efficiency of the furnace, new filters must be installed. Furnace filters primarily serve to keep the air free of dust and allergies, but they also help to heat and cool space in different seasons.

Conclusion

In the chilly winter, keeping your house warm is not difficult or expensive. You need to take into account a few standard recommendations that may be completed at home with little to no cost. The above discussion includes some significant advice that may be useful to you.

As winter arrives, implementing these 17 tips can transform your home into a warm and inviting oasis while helping you save on energy bills. From sealing cracks and gaps to optimising your heating system, each step contributes to a cosier and more energy-efficient living space. By taking proactive measures, you’ll not only stay warm but also create a comfortable environment for yourself and your loved ones throughout the winter season.