It feels like it got chilly overnight here in Louisville!
For many of us here in Louisville, that means turning up the theromostat to take the chill out of the air. Whether you have electric or gas heat, a few simple, inexpensive tips from our friends at Green Diva, will help warm up your house.
There are lots of ways that you can reduce your heating bill without setting a hand on your thermostat!
1. ?Get a draft dodger
Draft dodgers are filled fabric tubes that you wedge under the door to keep out cold air. ?Normally filled with sand or small beans, they do a great job of adding a little extra insulation around leaky doors and windows. ?You can purchase draft dodgers online ?- and if you are crafty – they are quite easy to whip up one yourself.
2. ?Make the most of the sunlight
If possible, try to keep your blinds open during the day and close them at night. ?This serves double duty. ?In the daytime, sunlight will warm your home naturally, and at night, your blinds will keep heat from escaping through your windows.
3. ?Trim the tree
No, not the Christmas tree….If you have plants blocking the windows on the side of your house that gets the most sun, prune them back. ?This will help you take advantage of sunlight during the day.
4. ?Cover the floor
Everyone has experienced that unpleasantness that comes from stepping out of bed onto a cold floor. ?Brr! ?That chilly floor is a sign that heat is escaping.?Area rugs can go a long way toward keeping your house warm, especially if your basement or crawl space isn’t as insulated as you wish it were.
5. ?Bundle up at bedtime
It’s hard to fall asleep if you are lying in bed shivering! ?Once you doze off, your body tends to tolerate cold rather well. ?If you can stand it, turn your thermostat down at bedtime, and just toss some extra blankets on your bed to warm you up while you fall asleep. ?In fact, if you have a programmable thermostat on a timer, you can even set it to start warming the house 30 minutes or so before you are planning to get up, so you don’t have to hop out of bed into a chilly room.
6. ?Don’t warm an empty house
Heading out for the day? ?Turn down the heat before you go. ?There is no sense in running the heater if no one is there to benefit from it. ?This is another great example of the benefits of programmable thermostats.
7. ?Get snuggly
When it gets chilly, remember body heat is free! ?When it is cold in our home, our puppy is the first one to find a soft, warm body to curl up next to…she is definitely onto something!
8. ?Insulate where you can
If you’ve got some spare cash in your budget adding insulation to your attic or crawlspace can make a huge difference. You can also look into replacing old, inefficient windows with newer ones. For lower budgets, pick up a caulk gun at the hardware store and seal any areas that are letting heat escape.
9. ?Layer up
People aren’t joking when they say ?If you’re cold, put on a sweater!? Wear warmer clothes in your house, and you won’t get cold as easily. This sounds like an obvious tip, but it can make a huge difference.
10. ?Drink up
Fall and winter are all about spiced hot cider and delicious teas. If you’re chilly, you can warm your hands and your body with a hot beverage.
11. ?Stay active
Exercise is another one that does double duty. When you get moving, you can warm your body from the inside out. Muscle helps generate heat, so weight-bearing exercise can actually help your body become more tolerant to cooler temperatures.
12. ?Reverse those fans
It might seem counter-intuitive to run the fans when it’s chilly in the house. Most fans have a switch on the side that lets you reverse the direction. Flip the switch so the blades turn clockwise, and it will help push warm air down.
13. ?Throw a party
This is a great time of year to host a get-together. Next time you’re having a large group of people over, turn down the thermostat. All of those bodies will warm things up in no time!
14. ?Eat for warmth
Cold weather makes us crave soups and stews, and this is a situation where it’s great to give in! A piping hot meal warms you from the inside out
Use these simple solutions to help beat the cold in your home this winter.
If you suspect that there may be a pattern of inefficiencies in your heating system, windows and doors, and your insulation, call us– our energy inspection team will be happy to assess the situation and provide short term and long term upgrades to help make your home more energy efficient.
