9 Cost-Effective Ways to Keep a Cozy Home

Posted on February 24th, 2017 by Devine Bros

Space heating is the biggest energy consumer in the house, accounting for about 42% of our utility bills each year. While it might be tempting to turn up your thermostat on those days you can’t seem to get warm, just a few degrees can break the bank. Try these nine low-cost ways to warm up instead:

Don’t let your money go out the window

• Seal your windows with caulk. Caulking your windows only costs a few dollars, can be done in less than an hour, and could significantly reduce your energy bills.

• Open your curtains during the day time. The sun is the world’s largest source of free heat, use it to your advantage by opening your curtains on sunny days.

• Keep them closed at night. If you do opt to open your curtains during the day time, make sure you close them when the sun goes down to minimize heat loss.

Increase your insulation

• Throw down throw rugs. Plush rugs can prevent heat from escaping through your floorboards. Plus, they feel great to walk on.

• Put bubble wrap on your windows. Bubble wrap is a cheap, easy, and effective way to temporarily insulate your windows.

• Use draft blockers under your exterior doors. You can purchase a draft blocker for less than $10, make your own, or use a rolled up towel – anything to stop cold air from creeping under your door.

Make use of other HVAC equipment

• Use a humidifier. Raising the relative humidity in your home can make it feel up to five degrees warmer, even though the temperature stays the same.

• Reverse your ceiling fans. Switch the blades on your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise. This will push warm air that gathers at the ceiling back down into the room.

• Fire up the fireplace. If you are lucky enough to have a working fireplace and a sufficient amount of wood to burn, use it to your advantage.

Devine Bros. has been helping homeowners in Fairfield County, Connecticut save money on their heating bills for nearly 100 years. We offer affordable fuel delivery services, furnace tune-ups, energy-efficient heating equipment installations, and more. Visit our website to see what we can do for you, or call (203) 866-4421.