Effective Energy Saving Tips for your Winter Home
Entry #3175, January 6, 2014
With winter come escalating winter heating bills for most of the United States. During the heart of the winter months, the temperature can get quite cold in many areas. At this time, it becomes tricky for most people to keep their house warm without burning much energy. Check out these cheap ways to save money when heating your home this winter.
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Effective Energy Saving Tips for your Winter Home
Cover the Windows & Doors
Windows are a great medium through which your home loses much heat. So, seal that way of potential heat loss by using thick curtains. A cheap option can be curtains with a thermal lining. Instead of buying new curtains, line them with some thermal materials like cheap fleece. Besides windows, you can cover the outside part of the doors too as an extra layer of protection.
Let the Sunlight In
If the weather is not too bad, it is absolutely important to make the best the use of sunlight during the cold months. It is a natural and totally free source of heat. So, if you are still seeing the face of the sun, let the sunlight in. Keep open the window shades and curtains during daytime. You can retain the heat to the maximum by closing the curtains as soon as dusk falls.
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Channel the Warmth of a Radiator
Channel your radiator’s warmth throughout the entire room by adopting some tricks. During the winter, avoid placing large furniture pieces in front of them. Your large, nice sofa in front of the radiator may look good but it absorbs a great amount of heat. Having high ceilings also contribute to the wastage of much heat. Channel the warmth better by putting a shelf above the radiator. It will prevent hot air rising toward the ceilings and help spreading in the room. However, do not put the shelf or anything else on the radiator itself.
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Close the Unused Rooms
If you have a very big house where a number of rooms are left unused, shut them up. The added space of these unused rooms does nothing but wasting the heat. Keep the doors of these rooms closed. It will prevent cold air and contain the heat in the rest of the house.
Cover the Floors with Carpeting
Uncovered floors can account for a considerable amount of heat loss. It is particularly true for wooden flooring, especially if it has cracks and gaps. Seal the cracks of the flooring by squirting some filler into them. Considering that skirting boards or floorboards can move slightly, contract, or spread out with regular use, you should use flexible silicone-based filler that can tolerate movement. Carpets, blankets, and rugs help reducing heat loss with the added bonus of providing a warm feeling under your feet.
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Most of the householders often update their inefficient heating system through insulation and installing double-glazing, which are expensive. You can get almost the same results by applying these quick and inexpensive tactics. How will you use these energy saving tips in your winter home?
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