Key Ideas For Keeping Your Home Warm This Winter
– Without Spending A Fortune!
Summer seems like a strange time to be discussing winter warmth. You’re bathed in sweet yellow sunlight, your boots, hats and gloves long forgotten about, sleeping without a sheet or a care in the world. You know the dark and cold of winter is coming – like a Stark – but you don’t want to acknowledge it. Not yet.
However, discussing the idea of staying warm in winter is perfect to be done a few months in advance. With the leisure of time, you can do take action without the pressing need for it. When the October bustles in, you’re ready for it, and can throw yourself into pumpkin spice and leaf-kicking without a care in the world.
Heating is a constant problem in the western world. It is estimated that up to a quarter of people are fuel poor; they don’t earn enough to adequately heat their home in winter. Perhaps you have the luxury of turning the thermostat up with no concern about the bills, or perhaps you struggle to meet the payments. Whichever it is, you can still try and minimize the amount you spend on heating options. It saves your wallet and the environment, so there’s no argument there.
Here’s a walk through the top eight ways to save energy, money, and effort through the winter months. Staying warm shouldn’t be difficult, and with these tips, it won’t be.
- Check your house for holes.
Not only do they invite rodents and spiders, but any holes in the outside of your house can let heat leak out. If you find any, it’s an easy remedy. Use expanding foam or outdoor masonry filler; it should only take a couple of minutes per hole. If you find anything larger than a few centimeters across, you may need to seek specialist advice.
- Insulation
Do you have it? If not, look into getting it. If you can’t afford a full insulation system, then something as simple as hay bales packed into the attic can do the job. If you do have insulation, when was the last time that you checked it for holes and damage? Grab a flashlight, sweep the cobwebs out of the way and go for a look. Repair anything that is deficient.
- Alternate heating methods
You don’t have to ramp up the gas usage to keep warm. Humans have been huddling around an open fire for millennia. Bring the idea into the 21st century with wood stoves, and scavenge fallen branches to feed into them. This can mean you’re effectively heating your home for free. Also, consider a small electrical heater for one room; it can be cheaper than using the central heating on the whole house.
- Windows
Use a garden hose to spray your windows thoroughly from the outside. If there is any evidence of water on the inside, then you could have a crack in the wood or plastic surround. Identify it and block it. When you heat the air, you don’t want it escaping back out again.
- Invest in exercise.
It can be worth purchasing a second-hand exercise bike to use through winter. Not only will it help your fitness, but it will keep you warm as well. Hop on it in the mornings to get your blood pumping rather than turning the temperature up to shake the morning chill.
- Think humidity.
Humidity can always be a problem but it flares in winter, especially if you don’t ventilate correctly. Set a schedule for opening up all the windows in your house over the colder months. If you can’t quite hack the idea of that, then look at dehumidifiers that can help ease the issue. Excess moisture makes a house feel colder than it is, so it’s important to get hold of it. Not controlling it is not only chilly but makes a perfect breeding ground for mold.
- Think about how you cook.
Cooking tends to warm up the kitchen, so use it strategically. A slow cooker can be left on for hours, and will provide not only a great meal but an extra layer of warmth for a fraction of the cost of heating. It’s also cheaper than a conventional oven by up to a third.
- Wrap your pipes up for the season.
It might seem silly, but your pipes need wrapping up against the cold too. This is particularly important if your winters involve long, frozen spells. Use fleece and duct tape to wrap any exposed pipes; it takes awhile, but clearing up the mess of a burst pipe takes even longer.
With everything ready, you can relax, look forward to a more efficient home- and not have to worry about huge bills.
Girl on Fire
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