Winter is already here, and the question that lingers on the minds of most homeowners is how to keep my house warm. Although there is nothing that you can do to stop it getting cold outside, there are things that you can do to ensure your house stays warm. And don’t worry, many of these ways may actually be relatively inexpensive ways to stay warm!
And, it’s not just about ensuring that you keep your home warm, but also about saving money and ensuring that your home remains energy-efficient. Read on to find out how you can keep your house warm this winter.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
If you haven’t installed a programmable thermostat yet, this is the right time to do so since it will keep your energy bill low. Instead of having to play around with your manual thermostat every time you leave the house or come back home, you leave everything to your programmable thermostat.
Program your thermostat to anything between 60 and 68 degrees if your house is empty during the day. You can make it 55 degrees if you are away on holiday. During the night, adjust the temperature accordingly to what is comfortable for you.
Maximize Your Insulation
Did you know that approximately 25 percent of heat is lost through your roof? This is the first thing that you need to deal with if you are looking for ways of how to keep your house warm in winter. Consider installing 25cm insulation throughout your loft.
You should also pay close attention to your walls since at least one-third of heat in an uninsulated home is lost through walls. Although it might be a little bit expensive to install wall insulation, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Close Your Curtains at Night
During the day, your house windows usually let in more radiant energy which helps to keep your interior spaces warm. The little sunlight can enter through the window glass, but it can’t escape since the window is quite opaque to the infrared radiation trying to get out of your house.
However, things might change at night since the window glass can get extremely cold hence absorbing heat from the surrounding air. Therefore, it is always good to ensure that you close your curtains to prevent the warm air from coming in contact with the cold window glass.
Leave the Oven Door Open
When you are through with baking and turned off your oven, leave its door open.
Then, the heat from the oven will flow into your kitchen and help warm it up.
However, you should consider this approach only if you don’t have children, pets, or a senior citizen in the house. The warm air from the kitchen can be supplied to the other rooms making your home feel much warmer.
Move Furniture and Other Obstacles Away from Your Vents
You may have unknowingly moved a table or sofa set in front of heating vents while rearranging your living room. Take time and go around your house double checking whether any vents are blocked.
If you discover that any of them have been blocked, this may be a problem. So, find a way of rearranging your furniture to unblock them. Keep in mind that blocking return vents could also lead to air pressure problems. This then further disrupts the flow of heat.
Upgrade Your Boiler
If your boiler is old and outdated, consider replacing it with a new and more energy-efficient HVAC model. Although installing a new boiler may be a bit costly, it will save you a lot of money in the long run. If your boiler is still in good condition, make sure that it is well-maintained and serviced by an experienced HVAC expert to serve you better.
Aiken HVAC offers the best HVAC maintenance and repair services in the larger Aiken, SC area. We have a team of experienced HVAC experts who are always ready to serve. Contact us today and let us help you keep your house warm this winter.
