Winter can be a magical season, but it can also be a challenging time when it comes to keeping your home warm and cozy. As the temperature drops, it’s important to ensure that your home stays warm and comfortable – without breaking the bank.
1. Seal your windows and doors: One of the most effective ways to keep your home warm is to seal any gaps or cracks around your windows and doors. This can prevent cold air from entering your home and warm air from escaping. You’ll be surprised by the difference this makes.
2. Use draft stoppers: Another way to prevent cold air from entering your home is to use draft stoppers. These can be placed at the bottom of your doors to block drafts and keep your home warm.
3. Insulate your home: Proper insulation can help to keep your home warm by preventing heat from escaping. The roof is usually the culprit so a visit to the attic is probably not a bad idea.
4. Use curtains and blinds: Thick curtains and blinds can help to keep the heat inside your home by preventing cold air from entering and warm air from escaping. Open the curtains during the day to let in natural sunlight, which can help to warm your home.
5. Use the right heater: If you spend most of your time in one room, you can use a space heater to keep that room warm instead of heating your entire home. These are referred to as directional heaters, and examples include gas heaters, fan heaters and bar heaters. These are ideal for warming a body or few bodies quickly, rather than heating and keeping a room warm.
Convection heaters, on the other hand, are better for warming and maintaining the warmth in a room for more extended periods of time. They are typically controlled with a thermostat, switching off once the temperature setting of the room was obtained and automatically back on again when the temperature drops. Examples include oil fin heaters, wall panel heaters and it is best to do a bit of research to decide what is best for your needs. Don’t forget to close the door when coming and going. If you have a fireplace, consider yourself very lucky.
Cost of running a heater: Use the heater wattage (W)/1000 x hours of use per day x R/kWh that you pay for electricity. This will give you the cost per day for using the electrical heater. Think about it this way: If this is a 1,200 Watt heater, it is effectively the same power usage as having your kettle boil non-stop for hours at a time. This simple calculation provides an indication of costs if the heater runs at full for a length of time. When a thermostat switches the heater on and off as needed, the power usage will be somewhat less over this period, which is why heaters with thermostats can offer a more economical option.
6. Use rugs and carpets: Hard floors especially tiles can be cold, so using rugs and carpets can make a big difference.
Keeping your home warm this winter doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. By following these simple tips, you can stay warm and cozy without breaking the bank. With a little effort, you can enjoy a warm and comfortable winter.
