A warm home will help to prevent damp building up in your home. Last winter, 20% of Americans had problems paying their energy bills. Even more are expected to have the same issue this winter as electricity prices have risen by almost 16% over the past 12 months. But as heating is needed to keep a home warm, safe to live in, and structurally sound, you need to find ways to heat yours.
Keep interior doors open
Many people assume that closing doors will trap heat inside each room and keep it warmer. But, this isn’t the case. Closing doors increases the pressure in the room. As soon as the door is open, the pressure and heat will swiftly travel out of it and the room will lose its heat. The best thing you can do is open up your interior doors when you’ve got the heating on as it encourages heat to flow freely through your house.
Gather in one room
47% of Americans are worried about the cost of energy, according to a recent Gallup poll. If this sounds like you, you’re likely to be wary of heating your entire home. One way to stay warm is to only heat one room. Gather all the family in this room and it will instantly feel warmer due to the body heat from multiple people. Space heaters are usually the most effective way to heat a small space like this. You can even keep your pet cozy by inviting them in too. If your pet particularly feels the cold, make a comforting shelter for them with lots of blankets. Microwaveable heat pads are good for some animals too. If you’re all still cold, grab your furry friend for a big cuddle.
Program your thermostat
Studies have found that the most common temperature people run their thermostats at is between 70 and 75 degrees F. The US Department of Energy has advised that by dropping this temperature down to 68 degrees F for most of the day and having an 8-hour break where you drop it to 60 degrees F, you could save 10% on your heating bill. Programming your thermostat to follow this advice will help you stay on top of your heating bills.
Lay out rugs
Hard floors are common in US homes. 52% have wooden floors and 58% have tiles. This type of flooring is great for keeping your house cool in the summer, but not good for keeping the heat in during the winter. There’s no need to rip it all up and replace it with carpet though. Good quality rugs are a great way to improve the heat in your home and could even reduce heat loss by up to 20%. Wool rugs are generally recommended as wool is an insulator.
Keeping your home warm should always be a priority. But with the rising cost of energy, it can be a worry too. Thankfully, these tips will help you keep your home warm and toasty without spending a fortune.
