Winter is here, and with it comes the challenge to keep your home warm and comfortable during the colder months. Whether you’re looking to save money on heating costs or just want your house to feel cozier and more welcoming, you can maintain comfortable living spaces, even in the depths of winter. Here are six tips and tricks to keep your home warm and snug when the temperatures outside are freezing.
Ways to Keep Your Home Warm
1. Seal the Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are often primary sources of drafts in your home, allowing cold air to enter and warm air to escape. To combat this, verify the windows are well-sealed with weatherstripping or caulk, and check that your doors have weather seals and door sweeps installed. You’ll prevent drafts and keep the living spaces warmer.
2. Use Draft Stoppers
If you feel drafts coming in from the bottom of your doors, a draft stopper (also called a “draft snake”) is a simple solution. Buy these online or at your local hardware store, or make your own with basic sewing skills. A draft stopper is a long tube, usually filled with rice, weighted plastic pellets, or beans, that will prevent cold air from entering, making it easier to keep cold air out of the house.
3. Add Insulation to Keep Your Home Warm
Insulating the house is one of the most effective ways to keep it warm in winter. Inspect the insulation and install additional material in the attic, walls, and floors to reduce heat loss and make the living spaces comfortable. You’ll boost your home’s energy efficiency and reduce the heating bills.
4. Reverse Ceiling Fans
In winter, ceiling fans help distribute warm air throughout a room. Many ceiling fans come with a switch that allows you to reverse the direction of the blades, creating a draft that pushes warm air from near the ceiling down into the room. Using your ceiling fans – with the blades turning clockwise – helps keep your home warmer without turning up the thermostat.
5. Use Heavy Curtains
Window coverings help insulate your windows and keep out drafts. Choose thick, heavy velvet, canvas, or wool curtains and verify they reach the floor. Leave them open during the day so sunlight can warm the living spaces, and close them at dusk to keep the warm air inside. Curtains also add a cozy, decorative touch to your home.
6. Keep Your Home Warm: Incorporate Rugs
Hardwood or tile floors feel cold, especially during winter. Adding rugs over chilly flooring creates a warmer, more comfortable surface underfoot. A rug helps insulate your floors, keeping cold air from below from entering your living spaces.
There are several ways to keep your living spaces cozy during winter without breaking the bank. The above advice will significantly improve the warmth of your home, helping your family feel more comfortable.
Prudent Home Inspections provides inspection services to homebuyers and sellers in the Washington, DC area. Contact us to schedule an appointment.