While you may love the cooler weather that comes with the winter months, you probably don’t want this cold weather to affect the inside of your house. However, try as we might, cold weather finds a way to creep inside and may bring down the temperature in your home.
Thankfully, there are several things you can do to keep your home warm this winter. Our Energy Masters team has several tips that you should consider that will help you stay warm in your home all winter long. If your home has recently been a little colder than normal, consider following the tips below.
1. Keep Your Vents Clear And Open
Turning on your home’s heater will do very little to keep you warm if your vents are blocked or closed. To keep your home warm this winter, ensure that your vents aren’t being covered by any furniture. You should also make sure they aren’t closed more than 75%. This should allow warm air to travel freely throughout your home. In addition to keeping your home warm, it protects your HVAC system from static pressure buildup that may cause premature breakdown.
2. Install A Programmable Thermostat
If you want to keep your home warm this winter, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can set your HVAC to ensure it is running at your desired temperature throughout the day. When you come home at the end of the day, you’ll know your space is just as warm as you’d like. Additionally, you can set your thermostat to be fractionally cooler when you’re not home, saving you money on your heating bill.
If you want to learn more about saving money on your heating bill this winter, check out this blog from September.
3. Light Your Fireplace
An easy way to keep your home warm this winter is by lighting a fire in your fireplace. However, this comes with a couple of caveats. If you aren’t using your fireplace, it is important that you remember to close the flue, or cold air may sneak into your home. Additionally, to practice proper fireplace safety, you should only light a fireplace if you’re going to be in the room to ensure no embers jump out and catch on the furniture in your room. As long as you are using your fireplace safely, it is a wonderful way to ensure your home is warm all winter long.
4. Let Sunlight In On Sunny Days
Sunny days in the winter months may be few and far between. However, when the sun does peak out and the days are a little warmer, open your curtains and let the sunshine in. Taking advantage of these warmer days will help you warm your home without having to rely on your HVAC system. While it won’t warm your home up substantially, it will help push the temperature up just a bit. At the end of these sunny days, though, don’t forget to pull your curtains shut to keep all of this warmth locked in.
5. Double-check Door And Window Seals
It is amazing how much warm air can escape through small gaps in the seals of your windows and doors. While it might start small, these cracks may lead to cold spots in your home and an increase in your electricity bills. Before the winter months, you should double-check the seals on your windows and doors to ensure they’re airtight. This gives you a chance to replace the seals before the winter months begin, keeping your home toasty through the colder winter months and cutting down on high energy bills.
6. Bake Some Winter Treats
While it might not seem like it, baking treats in your oven is a great way to keep your home warm in the winter. When you’re done baking, turn off your oven and leave the door cracked just slightly. The hot air from inside your oven will seep into your kitchen, keeping the space warm. You should, however, be mindful when doing this with children and small pets in the home, and only leave the oven door open when you are present and they are kept far away to prevent potential burns.
7. Schedule HVAC Maintenance
It is difficult to keep your home warm in the winter if your home’s HVAC system is malfunctioning, and when it’s cold, the last thing you’ll want to deal with is a long wait for a professional to come to do repairs. To prevent this and keep your home warm all winter long, you should schedule HVAC maintenance in the fall. This appointment should give your HVAC professional a chance to catch any problems with your system and allow them to make the necessary repairs before the cold air gets into your home.
Keep Your Home Warm With Energy Masters
Scheduling HVAC maintenance before the winter months begin is essential to keep your home warm through the coldest months of the year, and you certainly don’t want to wait to get this appointment scheduled. Our team at Energy Masters has years of experience, and we’re confident that we can keep your HVAC system running at peak efficiency to keep your home warm all winter long.
If you’re interested in scheduling an HVAC maintenance appointment before winter or would like to speak to a member of our team about the other services we provide, contact us today.
