The Cheapest Home Warming Options For Winter

Winter is an expensive season for many families. Many households install heating devices such as thermostats, or purchase electric blankets or heated clothes to keep their homes warm. However, not everyone can afford these luxuries, and many struggle to manage the bills.

If you're looking for ways to reduce energy consumption, this article is for you. These simple hacks can help you manage your winter home temperatures without high electricity bills.

Using Heat Reflecting Foil on Radiators

You can use tinfoil or any other heat-reflecting materials on your radiators to reflect the heat into the house, preventing possible heat loss through the walls. Cut a piece of cardboard to the size and shape of the pipe, then wrap it with aluminum foil or any other reflective material, and use it to cover behind the radiator.

Reflective materials can be used on internal heat sources such as ovens and wood stoves as well. If you're hesitant to make your own, you can pick up some inexpensive foils designed specifically for this purpose. They can be stuck on with a strong wallpaper paste or other adhesive.

Insulate Your Entire House Where Possible

Internal insulation is a huge help in retaining heat, and you can up your warmth game by taking things a step further and covering your pipes. Exposed hot water pipes can be insulated to prevent them from losing their heat into empty space. Insulating external pipes will ensure heat is channeled inside to warm your house.

Insulating any access points to attics and basements will help prevent cold from sneaking into your home space. Heat loss from floors can be significant, especially in homes with slab foundations. You can insulate the floor by spreading rags to cover the entire floor or spreading the carpet to cover it.

Reduce Possible Heat Loss Through the Window and Doors

You don’t want to lose heat generated in your house through the windows or doors. Curtains are very vital in this scenario and the thicker the curtain the better. Those with a thermal lining are the best option here and they are bought cheaply in today’s market. Or if you don’t want to spend much on such, you can do the lining by yourself with materials like fleece. The PVC shower curtain is also a better option.

Other windows insulating covering such as Honeycomb Double Cell Insulating Shades, the 3M insulating kit can be used alongside curtain. For a short term solution, you can use rags, duct tapes or old blankets to cover your window.

Allow Solar Heating When It's a Sunny Day

During the day, when it is sunny, you will have to uncover the window to allow the solar to heat your house. This natural heat helps warm up your house faster. Ensure you cover the windows with the curtains and window shades as soon as the dusk fall to prevent heat from escaping.

Stop Heat Being Lost up Your Chimney

Chimneys when left open suck heat out of your house, resulting in heat loss. Therefore make sure the flue or the draft or both should there be, are blocked whenever your chimney is not in use.

You can use fireplace insert insulation, as long as you always remember to take it out whenever you want to start the fire. This insulation device forms smoke and a gas-tight seal between the fireplace insert and surrounding masonry preventing heat from escaping as well. It is easy to fix by yourself and the length perfectly fits in.

Add Extra Warmth From Your Kitchen

Sometimes you will have to leave some of the cooking devices like stove slightly open to warm the house. Moreover, you can practice preparing foods that take a relatively long time to cook during winter. Such food like home-baked bread baking, jam and jelly usually take some time to prepare and this is a bonus heat in your house. The good this here is that you heat your house while preparing your meal, so there is no energy wastage.

Warmth From Pets

Consider cuddling your pet if it gets really cold and enjoy your pet’s warmth. It is not only you who will benefit from this, but your pet too. If you make it a routine thing after the evening meal or during movie time, your pet will always respond to enjoy your warmth.

Blankets

Don't limit your blanket use to a bedtime thing during winter—it can boost your comfort whenever and save you cash on energy bills. People tend to experience cold more clearly when seated or at rest because of slow blood circulation. This is when your blanket and lap rags come in handy. Throw your blanket, or even just some old fabric, over your lap, and keep warm while you watch movies.

A heated foot warmer can be another good investment. They fit right under a desk, and keep your feet warm and cozy.

The Bottom Line

Keeping your home warm and comfortable doesn’t mean living an expensive life. Practicing tricks like these can save you significant energy and money in the long run.