Whilst temperatures are dropping outdoors, it should remain nice and warm in your home. We’re not talking about turning up the thermostat (your utility bills shouldn’t send chills down your spine, either!). We’ve found clever tricks to make your home warm quickly and easily whilst helping you cut your bills. Curious to learn how? Keep reading to find out!
Open Your Curtains During The Day
The heat from the sun is free — open your curtains and make the most of it! Unwinding blinds or tying up curtains early in the morning allows sunlight to enter all day. When it gets dark, be sure to shut the curtains. Window treatments act as a layer of insulation, keeping the heat generated within the home. Also, be sure to check for any gaps in your windows to keep the cold air out.
Bonus: Upgrade to the ideal window treatments from the various types available. Generally, thick curtains and drapes will aid insulation.
Move Furniture Away From Radiators
Curling up on your couch right in front of your radiator may be your favourite way to warm up, but that furniture piece is obstructing the heat from circulating in the room!
Furniture pieces placed directly opposite (and close to) radiators absorb the heat that would otherwise warm up the room. Moving them away clears blockages in the flow of heat and allows hot air to circulate freely.
Pro tip: Placing a floating shelf over a radiator (if you have enough room) can prevent warm air from rising too quickly.
Install Insulation
A whopping 25% of heat is lost through the roof in uninsulated homes. This makes it essential to install insulation throughout your loft, flat roof, or attic. Doing so not only keeps your house warmer during the winter but also reduces utility bills.
This may be quite an initial investment but saves money in the long run (loft insulation can pay for itself in its 40-year lifetime). You may want to check with your energy supplier if they are offering insulation schemes or discounted prices for loft insulation.
Reflect Heat With Radiator Panels
Credit: Radflek
Central heating radiators also tend to heat up the wall behind them — a complete waste of heat! Placing a reflector on this wall bounces back some of the heat into the room, saving wasted energy. This warms the room at a faster pace.
While there are radiator reflectors you may purchase, you can also set one up yourself using cardboard cartons and other inexpensive materials. This, of course, is cheaper than the former.
Install Door Sweepers
Credit: MD Building Products
Ever feel cold air seeping beneath doors leading to the outside? Consider adding a door sweep. Nylon door sweeps are popular in this regard, and are installed along the inside bottom edge of the door.
You especially want to double-check this in the garage, where cold air can be blocked with garage door seals.
Lower The Thermostat
You heard that right! Lowering the thermostat by a few degrees doesn’t matter much in terms of comfort, but can contribute to a considerable reduction in heating bills. Generally, turning thermostats back by a few degrees for an average of 8 hours per day can save significant amounts in energy bills annually.
Whether that means adding an extra blanket to your bed during the night or tying up curtains during the day to make the most of free heat, making adjustments to lower your thermostat can really save you a good amount of money.
Leverage An Open Fireplace
If you have a fireplace in your home, it’s time to revamp it for the cold season and utilise its heat as a cheap way to warm up your space. Although traditional fireplaces aren’t very effective, there are modern energy-efficient ways to make the most of them, including the following:
Use suitable wood, preferably properly seasoned or kiln-dried firewood.
Make sure the wood is dry and free of mould.
Use hardwood logs to keep the fire going.
Sweep your chimney at the beginning of the burning season (autumn or early winter).
Consider installing other types of fireplaces (e.g., electric inserts, wood-burning stoves) in your open fireplace.
Also, be sure to check your fireplace dampers. Open (or loose) ones allow heat to escape the interior. Consider utilising a fireplace plug to get rid of the problem.
Final Words
And, there you have it! Utilise the given 8 ways to keep your home warm and save money for a space that stays cosy all winter long. You may also think out of the box and generate heat in other small ways. For example, boiling water for cooking purposes (e.g., making a good ole cup of tea) can help warm up your kitchen, while choosing the right rug to lay down can solve cold floor problems and provide extra warmth under your feet.
Struggling with keeping your home warm? Connect with one of our Interior Design Gurus over video chat, to get personalised tips and tricks on how you can keep your home warm without increasing your energy consumption!