While winter can give us tons of memorable moments, it also can be harsh when the temperature takes a dip. Nobody wants to live in a cold home during this time of the year, but sometimes the greatest chill comes after seeing the bills. However, maintaining your house warm doesn’t need to be that expensive. Keep reading this blog to learn some low budget home hacks to keep your house warm during winter, without breaking the bank.
- Use the curtains in your favor
The days are shorter and cold during this season, but the sun may still warm your home. When the sun is up, open the curtains in the part of your house where the sunlight hits. Remember to keep the windows clean to capture more heat. When there is no sunlight, close all the curtains or drapes, which work as an extra layer between the cold outside and the warm inside. You could even use temporary curtains on doors and windows to mitigate the temperature drop of the season.
- Beware of the drafts
The mail slot, a kitchen hood, or even the keyholes could let the cold air into your home. It is important to identify the drafts and find the best way to seal them. This is probably the best tip for a warm house during winter on a budget. Most air currents come from front doors and windows. Some drafts have easy and inexpensive fixes that you can do, for example: sealing the bottom of the door with a rolled towel.
- Close the chimney flue
Speaking of drafts, the chimney flue works as an open window in the room, letting the cold air into your home. Avoiding using the fireplace in winter may seem contradictory but it could not be as effective in warming a house as some may think. While it will surely heat the surroundings when the fire is lit, the hot air is exhausted through the chimney, creating an imbalance of pressure, making cold air more easily enter your home. Keep this in mind when you are using the fireplace.
- Look for colder areas
There could be areas that tend to be colder in your house, like the garage or the attic. In this case, you could isolate these areas from the rest of your house, adding foam to the attic hatch, for example. If you have an unused room, consider shutting it during winter. If you reduce the space that needs to be warm, it’s easier and costs less.
- Give maintenance to your HVAC
Maybe the last time you rearranged your home, you left the sofa near a heating vent? Some pieces of furniture could be blocking the airflow in your home. The ducts and vents can also accumulate dust and even mold, which is harmful to your health and can lower your heating system’s effectiveness. The easiest way to keep your HVAC system working at full capacity is to maintain it clean. Take some time to remove everything that could be blocking the airflow and see the difference in the bill.
- Keep an eye on the thermostat
Upgrading your old thermostat could save you a lot of money. In a programmable thermostat, you can set different temperatures depending on the time of the day or your household members’ routines. Another way to spare some bucks is by lowering the temperature of your thermostat just some degrees. Sometimes you can make a difference in the bill only with this small change and without affecting your comfort.
We hope these tips help you save money while enjoying the winter without the cold. Remember that a warm and clean house during this season is essential to take care of your health. In Maids in a Minute, we can help you with our quality cleaning services in your area.
