There’s nothing worse than a cold house in the winter – except perhaps getting an electricity bill that makes your eyes pop. While turning your heat down a few degrees and wearing an extra layer of clothes is always a smart idea, there are more simple hacks you can use to make your home a little warmer in the winter without a huge bill. And although we’ve just entered spring, lets face it, we’re not exactly out sun bathing yet either.
If you have radiators for heat, which is likely if you live in an older house, one inexpensive hack is to place sheets of aluminum foil behind the radiators. This prevents heat from being lost through the outside walls and actually reflects the heat back into the room, which can raise the ambient temperature of the house greatly. When doing this, make sure your radiators are clean and nothing (like furniture) is placed in front of them. Besides being a fire hazard, furniture can actually absorb heat and keep it from getting into the rest of the house.
This is also a good time to evaluate your home for drafts. Make sure windows are well sealed. If you have very old windows, it may be beneficial to caulk them. The drawback of this is this may make them impossible to open, but if you are looking to have your windows last through just one more winter until you replace them, this will greatly cut down on your heating expenses. At the same time, evaluate any drafts that may come from under doors. You can prevent this loss temporarily by using a rolled up towel at the bottom of your door. Never seal your doors as this could cause an unsafe situation – your home needs to breathe a little.
Consider the curtains that you have up. If they are sheer, buy some inexpensive flannel from the fabric shop and pin it to the pack of your curtains. This will prevent convection loss. Let the sun shine in during the day, as this is radiant energy that will warm a room, but shut your curtains at nightfall.
Another more involved project, but one that is certainly doable and will save you a substantial amount on your heating bill, is to add an extra layer of insulation to your attic rafters. Make sure it’s at least 8” thick, and be sure to use protective eyewear as it does include fiberglass. Wear gloves and long sleeves and pants as well to avoid the itchiness factor. Always be sure to follow safety instructions with the installation of insulation.
These hacks should keep you a little warmer without too much work.
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