Winters are all about chilly mornings and snowy, frosty nights. Throughout this season, your primary focus is to keep yourself and your loved ones warm and comfortable.
Nowadays, switching on the centralised heater alone doesn’t get the job done. You need to take extra precautions to make your interiors toasty and cosy.
However, if you’re not sure how to get this done, here are all the strategies you need to know!
1. Invest in a Good Heater
Invest in a heater with whole-room heat circulation technology so you feel warm no matter which corner of the room you’re in.
Make sure the model is energy-efficient and has a 5-year replacement warranty to make this investment worth it.
A good way to tick all these boxes is to get a portable heater that warms up only the room you’re using. Unlike standard ones, they don’t try to heat the entire house and focus on specific areas.
Look for special safety features like tip-over protection and automatic shut-off (in case you fall asleep while it’s still on) for fire prevention. Choose one with a cool-to-touch exterior and a grill to protect you and your loved ones from accidental contact injuries.
2. Eliminate the Draught
Around 25% of winter heat loss in urban homes is due to air leakage. Your next focus should be on the cold air (aka draught) entering your home from gaps around the doors, windows, and vents.
The draught can make your home chilly despite proper heating. So, apply weatherstripping or caulk to block the drafts.
3. Use the Curtains Strategically
During the daytime, open the blinds and curtains and let the sunlight in. This will heat up your home’s environment. During the dusk, close blinds and curtains to retain the heat indoors. You can use additional insulated or thermal curtains to trap the heat effectively.
4. Reverse the Ceiling Fan
During winter, reverse the rotation direction of your ceiling fan – clockwise. Switch on your fan at low speed, and it will help push warm air downwards and circulate it better. It’s an effective way to retain the heat within your home and prevent it.
5. Place Some Cosy Rugs
Whether you have hardwood, tile, concrete, or stone floors, all of them can get pretty cold during the winter. This can also cool the house’s environment. To prevent this, insulate the floor with carpets or thick rugs.
They can keep your feet warm and trap heat. This creates a cosy environment, reducing heat loss.
6. Clear all Vents
Check all the vents throughout the house. Remove any obstruction so it can ventilate warm air without a hiccup. Clean it before winter arrives, as well.
7. Use the Fireplace
If your home has a fireplace, use it wisely to create a cosy ambience. However, when you’re not using it, apply the damper to prevent cold air from entering your home.
8. Use the Kitchen Regularly
Many aren’t aware of this, but your kitchen can also make your home toasty. If you regularly cook or bake at home, it will create some warmth and humidity in the environment. This can raise the home temperature and keep it steady for longer.
The best options are cooking stews, soups, pasta, and casseroles or baking something. Make sure you keep the kitchen door open to transfer some of that heat to all rooms.
Caution: Don’t turn on the stove/oven, and expect your home to get heated. This doesn’t work and can lead to hazards.
9. Make the Most out of Shower Steam
Similar to the previous tip, keep the shower and bathroom doors open after taking a hot shower. The warm, humid air from the shower room will spread everywhere else. Besides heating, it will make your home more humid and comfortable.
10. Invest in a Humidifier
Warm air has higher moisture content than the cold air of the winter. Water can also hold heat, keeping the surroundings warm. So, another method to keep your home cosy is using a humidifier. Place it anywhere you spend more time.
11. Focus on Your Bedding
There are quite a few ways to make your life warmer during winter. For instance, if your bed is near the window, it might make you feel extra cold during winter. So, move it away from where the cold air can’t hit the bed directly.
Another way to make your bedding warmer is to switch to flannel sheets from cotton ones. These are soft and warm and effectively trap body heat.
Final Words
Besides these, make sure your roof doesn’t have any leaks and your home insulation is spot-on. Dress warmly with sweatshirts, hoodies, socks, and indoor slippers. With these tips, you can overcome the biting cold of every winter effortlessly!