Budget-Friendly Ways to Stay Warm this Winter
Ideally, you want to stay warm and cozy in your home during mid-Atlantic winters. That isn’t always easy to do without paying for it in high heating bills. However, there are practical, creative, and even fun ways to stay warm on a budget. Here are a few tips.
Bundle Up
This one may seem obvious, but simply bundling up with warm clothing, thick socks, and slippers can keep the chill away. Make sure you have blankets on the couches and chairs in the family room.
Dining In
Do more cooking in your home and less dining out. The heat from your oven and stovetop can help keep the kitchen and adjoining rooms warmer. After you have used and turned off the oven, leave the door open to let the heat flow out.
Windows and Doors
Seal up the drafts around windows and doors in your home. Caulk and weatherstripping are very practical products for this purpose. You will also want to seal the attic door with foam weatherstripping.
On sunny days, open the window coverings on sun-struck rooms. Remember to close them at night. Further, use window treatments, such as heavy drapes and storm panels, to block heat loss.
Thermostat Settings
Use thermostat settings to your advantage. During sleeping hours, turn back the temperature five to eight degrees. When your home is unoccupied, turn back the temperature even more. If you haven’t switched to a programmable thermostat yet, now is the time.
Stay Active
Staying active on a budget obviously doesn’t mean buying a home gym. Simple things like doing the laundry in the evening helps significantly, and you’ll have warm clothes to wear! If there are several people in your household, play active games such as charades. Better yet, invite guests for a party. The more the merrier —and warmer!
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
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