Our community has been in the grip of a classic winter lately. With plenty of snow, harsh winds and frigid temperatures, there’s nothing like coming home to a nice warm, inviting house. With the cold weather looking set to stay, it’s important to find ways to keep your home cozy but the costs down.
We’ve compiled a list of 5 ways to help you stay toasty through this winter wonderland!
1. KEEP COLD AIR OUTSIDE AND WARM AIR INSIDE
Check for areas in your home where drafts are allowing cold air in and warm air to escape. Check windows and doorways for drafts. You may be able to add simple insulation in the form of weather stripping to reduce the loss of warm air and better insulate your home. If your home is an older home, a further investigation on your home’s insulation status may prompt you to consider better insulation in areas such as attics or ceilings.
2. USE THE SUN FOR FREE HEAT
Open curtains on south-facing windows on sunny days. Streams of sunlight will gently warm those areas. Close window treatments when the sun goes down and on overcast days.
3. USE CEILING FANS IN THE WINTER
During the summertime, ceiling fans are most efficient when their blades rotate in a counterclockwise or forward direction. Did you know you can switch the direction of your blades with a toggle, typically located near the motor.
As winter approaches, optimizing your ceiling fan for the season is essential. For colder months, adjust your fan’s blades to rotate clockwise (or in reverse). This clockwise direction helps draw room air upwards, guiding warm air towards the ceiling and then gently forcing it down and towards the walls.
4. REFRAIN FROM HEATING UNUSED SPACES TO CONSERVE HEAT
If you have rooms in your home that are unused, don’t waste heating energy and money by heating them. Consider reducing heat sent to guest rooms, laundry rooms, or storage areas. Close and seal off vents in those rooms, close doors, and conduct the flow of warm air to rooms that you use more regularly.
5. SUPPLEMENT YOUR HEAT SOURCE TO HEAT YOUR HOME
You may want to consider adding additional heat sources (such as a space heater or using your fireplace) to warm key rooms while you are inhabiting them. Using additional heat sources can help you to better control specific rooms in your home – keep the temperature in those rooms toasty without adding heat to the whole house.
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