If inflation has put a chill in your heart, then you’re probably worried that it may put a chill in your home this year, too. Rising costs across the board mean less money to spend on energy this winter. But don’t worry – you don’t need to fear that you’ll have icicles hanging from your nose in the coming months. There are ways that you can cut your heating costs without sacrificing your warmth and comfort. Here’s what you need to know.
Use Warm Accessories
It’s time to change out your warm-weather accessories for their cold-weather counterparts. This isn’t just to give your home a more seasonal vibe. It helps to keep you warm, too. Swap out light sheets for flannel, use rugs on the floor, and change your window treatments for heavier curtains. Add blankets to your sofa to keep warm while binging Hallmark holiday movies.
Use Curtains Wisely
Adding heavy curtains to your windows will help to keep out cold drafts, especially at night. But during the day, open your curtains to let in as much sunshine as possible. This will help to naturally warm your living spaces.
Fine-Tune Your Thermostat
If you haven’t already gotten on the programmable thermostat bandwagon, then this is your year to do it. Fine-tuning your thermostat can help to save you big on your energy bill. Keep the house at a colder temperature when you’re out during the day and when you’re sleeping at night. A programmable or smart thermostat will automate the whole process for you so you never forget.
Find and Seal Air Leaks
Check your home for evidence of air leaks. Look at windows, doors, light fixtures, outlets, switches, walls, and ceilings for holes or gaps. If you’re not sure there’s a leak, then light a candle and hold it near the area. If the flame flickers, then you most likely have a leak. When you do find leaks, fill them with caulk or weather stripping.
Don’t Heat Unused Rooms
There’s a good chance you have rooms in your house that you don’t use every day. This can include guest bedrooms, powder rooms, and laundry rooms. Shut the door to rooms you are not using. This will allow the heat to stay in the room so that your furnace doesn’t have to work so hard.
Cook at Home
If you’re looking for a reason to eat more dinners at home, then think of it as a way to save on your heating costs. When you turn on the oven, it helps to warm up your home. Once you’re done using the oven and have turned it off, you can prop open the door to let that heat warm the kitchen. Just be sure there aren’t any kids nearby whose curious hands might get burned.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
Finally, you know that ceiling fans can help to keep you cool in the summer. But did you know they can also help to keep you warm in winter? Reverse the spin of the blades so they are rotating clockwise. This will help move trapped warm air at the top of the room back down to the floor.
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