Can you feel the cold in your home? Are you trying to stay warm without breaking your bank balance?
The winter months have arrived, and you may already be pulling out your extra blankets and jumpers. For many of us, it’s about striking the balance between keeping warm and ensuring our energy bills remain at a minimum.
Here's a helpful list of tips to keep you warm and comfortable during the cooler months.
Seal Cracks And Gaps
Can you feel a draft when you’re curled up on the couch and watching a movie? Chances are that you have a gap in the wall, which is letting some cool air into your home.
Nearly 25 per cent of heat lost in your home during winter comes from unsealed cracks. However, they can be a pain to find and fix.
Be sure to check high and low, including along your doorframes for any cracks.
Once you locate an unsealed crack in your wall, roof or flooring, get it fixed fast and you’ll minimise those unwanted drafts.
Cover Your Walls
Covering your walls with curtains and heavy-duty blinds is a sure-fire winner when it comes to keeping the warmth inside your home.
When your windows are protected, it helps to ensure that no air is leaked. In addition, you should consider covering your walls with a mirror, picture frame or painting. Together, these items raise the internal surface areas of your home and provide an extra layer of protection between you and the colder weather outside.
Fans And Insulation
A ceiling fan is a perfect cooling method in summer. But it can also become an asset during the winter months.
Check your fan settings to ensure that your device can be changed into a wind-chill buster that turns in a counter-clockwise direction.
Once you’ve located the ‘reverse switch’ your fan will begin circulating warmer air that naturally rises to the ceiling.
In addition, you may want to consider some other methods like underfloor insulation, which provides a barrier that minimises heat lost in your home.
Most modern homes have in-built insulation. In fact, a well-insulated house can use as much as 45 per cent less energy for heating and cooling.
Checking the insulation in your ceiling is also an important consideration. This can be the difference between warm comfort and grabbing that extra blanket.
Let The Sun Do Its Job
The winter months provide the perfect excuse for skipping our daily outdoor routines and staying indoors. However, it is still important that you see the sun and maintain a healthy routine.
Consider opening your doors, windows, and heavy-duty curtains to allow the sun to peak through your home. This will warm up the furniture inside and deliver a barrier of warm protection when the weather turns, or the sun goes down. It also doesn’t cost a cent, and gives you the perfect dose of Vitamin D.