The fall season is slowly coming to an end as the colorful leaves fall from the trees and the temperature dips day by day. The cold is especially unbearable in the mornings when you have to resurface from underneath your cozy blankets and face the harsh reality of freezing floorboards. So, you rush to turn up the heating, inadvertently causing your heating bill to go up.
The easiest way to save on your heating bills would be the insulation of the whole house or the replacement of the old windows. However, both of these options are rather costly. To save yourself from going broke, you can apply some easy solutions to keep your house warm during winter. Locate where most heat escapes and see how you can prevent heat loss using curtains, rugs, or foil. On top of that, you shouldn’t forget about keeping yourself warm during cold nights when proper bedding is godsent.
Winter is a very charming season, but only when you can admire it from the inside of the warm house. Don’t let the cold ruin those months for you, and keep the cozy atmosphere with our tips.
Choose Proper Bedding Materials
There are many materials that you can use to keep yourself warm at night. First of all, you should have proper bedding. Some people prefer synthetic duvets because they are lightweight and breathable, but wool or down are much better thermal insulators. Even if you have a heavy duvet, it’s best to layer up with several blankets.
You can also opt for sheets and pillowcases made of flannel, which help you stay warmer at night. If you have the option, invest in a heated mattress pad or mattress cover. You might also want to use a weighted blanket to keep your whole body warm and help yourself fall asleep easier. In addition, other benefits of weighted blankets include improved quality of sleep and reduced stress levels, making them a handy addition to your sleep environment.
Check the Insulation
The first thing you should check is the insulation inside your home. If there are any leaks, you should seal them up with plastic sheeting and tape. Pay special attention to the areas around windows and doors because they’re usually the most vulnerable to cold drafts. Make sure window panes are properly sealed; if you have drafty windows, replace them with energy-efficient ones.
Seal Drafts Around Your Home
If you haven’t noticed an issue with your insulation, try to find the source of the leak. The problem may be located in the pipes or electric wires. You can seal the gaps around pipes and wires with caulk. If you find a wall with large cracks, you might want to get it re-plastered.
Use Energy-Efficient Heating Appliances
In order to save on heating bills, try to replace old appliances with more efficient ones. For example, you can make an upgrade from an electric water heater to a tankless one. On top of that, use a programmable thermostat so that your heat will not be running at full capacity when you’re not using it.
Insulate Your Water Pipes
During winter, frozen water pipes mean a lot of trouble for homeowners. To prevent the pipes from freezing, insulate them properly. Avoid having your thermostat set to below 55 degrees Fahrenheit so that your water doesn’t freeze. If you have outdoor pipes, wrap them in foam insulation.
Install Curtains and Drapes
Installing curtains and drapes is an excellent way to prevent heat from escaping your home. It stops air from entering and exiting your house, as well as heat. These pieces of clothing should be thick and made from materials that insulate well – such as wool or silk – and they should cover all the windows.
Placing a blanket between the window and the curtain will amplify the insulating quality of the curtains and keep the cold out. If you can’t afford curtains or drapes, you can reuse old blankets or use any type of fabric and make them yourself.
Don’t Forget About Your Bathroom
Bathrooms tend to get really cold during winter due to low water temperature, which leads to freezing floors and eventually cold showers. This is especially annoying if you like taking long showers. To avoid this problem, install a heated floor mat near your bathtub or shower area.
Most heated floor mats work through electricity or batteries, but newer models utilize special technologies that require no additional energy source. Another way to keep your bathroom warm during winter is by installing a towel warmer near the sink.
Those who suffer from dry skin or chapped lips in winter can also benefit from having a towel warmer in their bathroom. It won’t only look amazing and add a certain charm to your bathroom design but will also allow you to warm your towels before putting them on your face and body.
Towel warmers come in different shapes and sizes, so you can choose the one that will fit best into your bathroom design. Furthermore, they come in different colors, so you can choose one that matches your bathroom or simply make it your accessory of choice!
Conclusion
You can spend the winter season feeling cozy inside your house, but only when you have a fully functional heating system. Unfortunately, it usually results in additional costs not everyone can afford.
A lot of heating bills can be avoided by getting proper insulation and reducing electricity usage. Don’t forget about checking for leaks because sealing them up will save you a lot of money. It’s also wise to check your water pipes because frozen water pipes can cost you a fortune to repair.
All in all, the winter season can be a great time to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. We hope that our tips will help you keep your house warm during winter and save some cash on your heating bill.