4 Ways To Keep Your Home Warm During Winter

When someone mentions winter, the first word you probably think of is “cold.” While the winter cold brings about beautiful snow and scenery, the last thing you want is the cold to follow you into your house. We’ve decided to pass on some easy tips for keeping your home toasty warm during the long winter months. The easiest way to keep the heat from leaving your home is to keep the doors and windows closed, but there are many other ways to prevent heat loss that are often overlooked.

Insulation. The exterior walls of your house are obviously very susceptible to the cold due to the fact they have direct contact with the outside environment. Without proper insulation, heat will escape from your house, and all the money you are spending on heat is going out the window (or the walls in this case).

Heating System. It is recommended to have your heating system cleaned and serviced, or at least checked, annually. If you are trying to save money and do not want to hire a serviceman each year, you should at least replace the filter in your furnace to make sure it is running as efficiently as possible. Programmable thermostats are also very useful tools in maintaining a comfortable living temperature without breaking the bank. Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature at the times people will be in the house. When you are at work and the kids are at school, or you are on vacation (to somewhere tropical hopefully), turn the temperature down to lower heating bills.

Fireplaces. Fireplaces are a great way to stay warm during the winter, but, sometimes, they can do more harm than good in keeping out the cold. These tips are for homeowners with wood burning fireplaces and chimneys, not electric fireplaces. When the fireplace is in use, there is a damper that needs to be open to release the smoke outside of the home. The problem here is that many forget to shut the damper when the fireplace is not in use. The damper is simply a vent that, when left open, provides an entry point for cold air to flow down the chimney and into your house.

Windows. Like we mentioned earlier, if it is the middle of winter and you want to keep your house warm, shut your windows. Even when closed, however, windows can let in drafts if they aren’t sealed properly. There are a few easy fixes to this issue. You can find insulating sealant to prevent the draft, put up new curtains, or have your windows replaced by a professional.

Are you looking to have a professional put in insulation? Need your heating system serviced, or windows replaced? We have many contractors on TotalHousehold looking to help you make your home as warm and comfortable as possible through this winter and many more. Find a local professional here.