Winter is coming, and it better find you well-prepared. To help you combat the cold, we are telling you how to keep your house warm on a budget.
Brr! Summer’s over, and the temperatures are starting to drop.
So what’s the first thing you do? You reach for the thermostat to bump it up.
But doing this for 24 hours a day won’t be very cost-effective. Yes, you’ll be nice and cozy, but your bank account won’t be.
Keep reading to find out some great ways on how to keep your house warm without freezing your wallet.
Draftproof Your House
When it gets cold, you wrap up, right? You tend to put on clothes that keep in your body heat; you’ll notice it right away if you have a “leak” in your clothes.
The same concept goes for your house. You can turn the heating on max, but it’ll work harder than it needs to if you have unwanted drafts coming into your home.
Thankfully, draftproofing your house is an easy DIY project. Take a walk around your property to thoroughly inspect where cold air is getting in. It may be useful to have your significant other or older children do this with you to divide and conquer.
Once you figure out where the drafts are coming in, you have several choices to remedy these issues. They are:
- Using weatherstripping
- Installing new sweeps
- Using foam tape
- Applying rigid foam insulation and/or foil stripping
- Applying window film
- Using a door snake
- Recaulking your windows and doors
Take Advantage of Your Curtains
You may not really give it a second thought, but the positioning of your curtains throughout the day can matter a lot!
During the day, you should have them completely open, especially if it’s sunny outside. That way, you get as much sunlight in as you can. Not only can you save some energy on your electric bill by not switching on the lights as early, but you can also save since your rooms will be warmer.
When it gets dark at night, make sure to shut your curtains. You want to retain as much heat as possible while the sun’s gone, and the curtains can act as extra insulation. Keep warm air in, and cold air outside.
For the best results possible, consider getting insulated curtains. These work in the summer too, since they can keep the hot summer sun’s rays from getting inside.
Close All Possible Doors
It might be more of a pain going from room to room, but at least you’ll be warmer!
When all the doors of your home are open, all the air circulates, which means you’re quickly losing heat in the one specific area you’re in. If you’re in the study, close the room and you’ll quickly feel it warm up.
The only downside to doing this is you may have staler air in the room you’re in. If you’re working, it might be a good idea to get up and stretch your legs in another part of the house anyway.
Cook and Bake More
Are you used to eating takeout all the time? Then consider cooking your meals and baking treats at home.
This option can save you some money since it’s much cheaper making your own food and desserts. Plus, it’ll warm up your house while you’re doing so!
When you’re done baking, you can leave the oven on for 10 or so minutes with the door open. Any longer than that, and you’ll be wasting energy.
Consider Switching to Heating Oil
When it comes to your heating system, you may be burning diesel fuel in your home. While you’d normally find diesel in vehicles, many homes also use it because it’s not volatile and won’t evaporate as quickly.
However, it can be more costly. When it comes to heating oil vs diesel fuel, heating oil will always win out.
“Heating oil isn’t explosive, can burn hotter, and is cheaper than natural gas and electricity. Even the price of heating oil itself is cheaper compared to everything else.”, says the team from BoilerJuice US.
Plus, if you’re conscious about your carbon footprint, it also burns much cleaner. It’s biodegradable and doesn’t have carcinogens.
Buy a New Boiler
This may sound like a huge cost, but hear us out. If your boiler is over 10 years old, chances are, you’re throwing away tons of money every year because of it.
Technology’s made leaps and bounds in the last decade or so; if you’re trying to hang onto your old trusty boiler, that may be a mistake. Today, there are many affordable boilers that are energy efficient.
If you invest a little into a better boiler now, your wallet will be thanking you for years to come. Plus, if you have a new boiler, it’ll be less prone to issues during the winter than your old one.
Insulate Your Boiler
Your boiler needs to heat up the water inside in order to make your house warmer. If it’s located somewhere cold in your house, it may be using a lot of energy to maintain the hot water inside.
Lend it a helping hand by giving it a “jacket.” If it has insulation, the water can stay hotter for longer, which means your boiler won’t eat up as much on your utility bills.
If you can’t afford to buy a new boiler, this can be a good idea to at least reduce some costs in the time being. And even with a new boiler, some insulation can save you more money.
Know How to Keep Your House Warm on a Budget
By knowing how to keep your house warm on a budget, you can ensure you and your loved ones are nice and toasty. All without spending a fortune either!
So file these tips away in your mind now that winter is coming. Keep your house warm and your bank account full too.
Get some more tips for your home by reading our other blog posts!
