Winter is fast approaching, so as a result, you might be panicking when you think about all that you have to do. It can be such a busy time of year, right? There can be a lot of costs in winter too, from food, parties, holiday gifts, and the dreaded heating bill. With temperatures dropping it means that it costs more to keep your home warm, as the heating will be on more often, and for longer, than at any other times in the year. According to thisoldhouse.com you could be spending more than double in winter on keeping your home warm. So having a few tips and tricks to help you to cut the costs of staying warm, is always going to be a good thing. Don’t worry if your home is old and not as well insulation, there are still plenty of things that you can be doing. Using some of these tips can help you to save and to be comfortable all winter.
A programmable thermostat
If you want to keep your heating bill low, then make sure that you look into getting a programmable thermostat. It means that your home heating will be much more efficient, as you won’t have to manually program things and fiddle about as soon as you come back home. There are even some options for you where you can use your phone to change the thermostat.
Let sunlight in during the day
On a sunny winter’s day, the temperature can be really low, but the sun can give some great heat, especially through windows and glass. So try to capture as much of that as possible (though the sun won’t shine bright every day in winter). Before you go out of the house on a sunny winter’s day, open up curtains before you leave, so that you can let in some sunshine. If you’ve ever had something like a conservatory you will know how hot the sun can make a room. Just stick to the rooms that get the sun in the day, and keep others shut, to keep those rooms more insulated.
Keep Pipes Warm
If you are going away for some of the holidays, then it seems a little counterintuitive to say that you should keep your home warm even then. But even if you’re not going to be home for a couple of days, having the heating run at least once when you’re away is a really good idea. If not, your pipes run the risk of freezing and that can lead to cracks and damage, which long term, could leave you feeling cold and uncomfortable over winter. You could also look at a site like heatline.com for warming pipes that can be installed by your water pipes, to keep them warm.
Seal leaks and drafts
There may be some drafts and air leaks in your home, with many windows and doors that have gaps and small holes that can let in a lot of cold air. Places like attics and basements are a good idea to check out too, as well as even the kitchen cooker hood, where air can come in. Caulk is a great way to seal them.
