In the midst of the cool and wet winter, we’re struggling to find ways to keep warm. Thankfully, there are options and we don’t have to break the bank to keep our toes warm. Follow these simple tips to save money on heat and electricity these first few months of 2015, and keep warm with us.
- Seal door and window cracks. You’ll want to seal the door cracks just enough to keep drafts out. If you live in an older home, it’s especially important to pay close attention to areas that can let in cold air and block heat. These homes usually have larger gaps in their doors, windows, and floors.
- Close your doors. It’s a good idea to close a room’s door that you’ll be in for an extended period of time. If you have a space heater or vented heat flowing, this will heat up a room in no time, and keep that heat from escaping into other, less used parts of the house.
- Use an electric blanket. Newer electric blankets are tested to be a lot safer than those made 10 years ago or more, so if it’s been a while since you purchased one, it might be time to upgrade. You can save electricity by sticking with the electric blanket and cutting out more costly space heaters. If you are using an older electric blanket, however, it would be a good idea to upgrade the power cord.
- Turn the heat down but not all the way off during the day. If you’re going to be out of the house for an extended period of time, turn the heat down, but not completely off. It costs more money to completely reheat a room, so save yourself some stress, and just crank it down.
- Open your vents. With all the vents in your house open, the heater doesn’t work as hard to circulate air. This will save you money in the long run, and ensure that your ventilation system isn’t working overtime.
- Open the blinds in the morning and close them at night. Sunlight can do a lot to heat up a room, depending on which way the room faces. At night, however, it’s best to keep the blinds and/or curtains shut to keep any heat from escaping through the glass.