The average American household spends nearly $2,200 on energy costs for their home. Most of these costs are for cooling and heating.
With the chilly winter weather, you may be tempted to crank up the heat whenever you feel cold. However, this approach is both costly and wasteful. Instead, there are some adjustments you can make to keep your home warm while spending less.
Want to learn more? Read on for 5 cheap heat tricks this winter.
1. Cover up Drafts
Did you know that a 1/8-inch gap under a 36-inch wide door can let as much cold air in your house as a 2.4-inch hole? Before the cold winter air strikes, check your doors and windows for holes, cracks, and gaps.
You can draught-proof your windows and doors with rubber seals. If you already have your door sealed, you can check for holes or see if you need to make any repairs.
2. Close Your Curtains
The sun brings warmth. In the summer we’re supposed to shut the curtains during the hottest parts of the day to keep the heat away.
In the winter, you should keep your curtains open during the day to bring in the warmth. At night, you should shut the curtains. The extra layer of fabric provides a layer of insulation.
There are even special thermal insulation curtains you can purchase.
3. Keep Furniture Away from the Radiator
Maybe the look of the radiator clashes with your living room decor, so you block it with furniture. Or maybe you want to keep the sofa near the radiator so you can feel the heat.
However, the large furniture pieces can block the heat from the radiator. The heat can’t adequately circulate around the room.
4. Insulate Your Home
Are the walls in your home insulated? If not, you could be losing energy and spending more money to keep your home warm every year.
You should also check your roof. You can insulate your attic walls or see if you need any roof repair, as heat can escape from the roof of your home. Although insulating your walls may be costly upfront, you can treat it as an investment.
You can also see if your utility company is running any rebate or savings programs for those who make their home more energy efficient.
5. Only Turn on the Heat When You Need It
This one may seem obvious, but some people think you should have your heater set ON all the time during the winter. Instead, you should only turn the heater on when you need it.
You’re not home all day, so you’re wasting energy by having the heater always running–even if it’s at a low temperature.
Final Tips for Cheap Heat
In addition to the above cheap heat tips, there are other things you can do to stay warm during the cold months. Make sure your feet are always covered with socks or warm house slippers.
You can also place a heating pad at the foot of your bed. Make sure the heating pad has an automatic shut-off feature for safety.
Want more tips and advice for the home? Check out more articles in our for the home section.
About The Author
