Good Lifestyle

That you love it or not,Winter is here. And for those who live inCold weather regions, the temperature drop may mean an increase inHeating expenses in the coming months. In fact, according to theAdministration of information on US energy, the average US household spent nearly $ 4,000 on heating costs in the winter of 2018. However, huge utility bills are not the only answer to stay comfortable this winter - with the Help of experts, we have gathered the best ways to keep your home warm and comfortable this year without having to spend a fortune.

These thin and clear color curtains that you use during the summer months make your home a bad service when temperatures start drip. "In winter, go with heavier curtains," saysLeanne stapf, COO ofThe cleaning authority. "It helps keep looking hot in and cools breeze."

This winter, enjoy the most effective natural radiator there is: the sun! "The open blinds and curtains during the day to leave the sunlight to bring the temperature of the house," suggests a star hgtv andResidential tray partnerAnthony Carrino.

Similarly, if you are eager to keep the cold, it pays to close these curtains when the sun goes down. "Conventional draperies can reduce the heat loss of a hot room up to 10%," said Stapf, quotingEnergy.gov research.

The good thermostat goes a long way when it comes toKeep your home warm during the winter.Mark Dawson, COO ofTime of heating and air conditioningRecommends installing a programmable intelligent thermostat, which "allows you to set the thermostat for warmer temperatures just before waking up and returning home, improving your comfort."

The heat will not really heat up your home faster; It will be enough to get your oven out longer. So, although it can be temptinglaunch the thermostat When it's cold, it's not the best long-term movement. "These extreme temperature fluctuations make your oven job much more difficult than it should and take out your energy bills," says Dawson. It recommends increasing the temperature of your home between 7 and 10 degrees.

Keeping these hot toes in winter means more than investing in a good pair of slippers - Laying casting cartridges can also help. Not only will they help keep your feet warm, they can also better isolate your home, as well as potentially reduce the drafts between the floor.

You probably do not thinkTurn on your ceiling fan when it's cold outside. But this can keep your home warm, that is, if you make a significant change first. "In winter, reverse the rotation of your fan to push the cold air upwards and mix with increasing heat," says Carrino. "The mixed air will then spread down, rendering your room feel warmer."

If you want to keep your home warm and avoid a burst pipe this winter, it is paying to cover them before the temperature becomes too low. According to Dawson, this can be done using "pipe sleeves, heating tape or thermal cables that can be wrapped around the pipes to isolate them." However, if you do not have any options at your fingertips - or if you are on a budget-Dawson, the log can help prevent pipes from freezing in a pinch.

Another way to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting is to let your faucets work slightly throughout the day. According to Dawson, this will encourage the flow of water and will melt all the frozen spots that may have started building in your pipes. This simple practice can even save you with a flood due to a burst pipe.

This can erase the air when cooking, but your cooking hood can also serve as a passage for cold air to enter your home. To avoid this side effect, Dawson recommends covering the kitchen hood when it is not used to mitigate leaks and keep hot air inside.

Not only does the cleaning of your dryer vents help "make sure the accumulated plush does not block the airflow," says Dawson, will also help prevent your dryer from becoming afire hazard.

This open flue is a common source of home drafts, according to Dawson. So, when it is not used, keep it closed and you will keep a warmer look inside your home.

Furniture that covers a CVC registry prevent your home from heat properly. "Annoying the flow of free air means that your heating system will not be as effective as possible," saysGlenn Wisemansales manager toTop Hat Home Comfort Services.

This is particularly important if you have the heating of the plinth, which can lead to a fire so blocked, according to Wiseman.

Although this may seem an easy way to manage expenses, closing vents in rarely used rooms can finally leave your house colder. "Your system is designed to heat all areas of your home," says Dawson. So your HVAC system will continue to repel heated air, even when these vents are closed, which your system works stronger while reducing its effectiveness. In addition, "this pressure pushing against closed vents can lead to expensive damage and air leaks," Dawson declares.

You want to keep catch-up windows to make your home uncomfortably cold? Start with a retractable wrapping kit. "Cover of the windows with plastic inside to provide an additional insulation layer to prevent cold air", suggests Carrino.

A surprising amount of heat can be lostThrough your attic If it is not properly isolated, a problem that can also lead toicebrats, leaks and other damage. However, even if you do not want to finish your attic completely, just add insulation stick or have a blow-in-in insulation pulverized in the existing framing of your attic can help keep a loss of heat at least .

As they are often great and left open at significant periods of time, garage doors can quickly make your home feeling frigid. "If you live north where it's very cold, try adding additional insulation to your garage door - it can make a big difference," says Carrino.

The regular maintenance of the air filters of your home reduces not only the allergens - including the mold, which can accumulate and spread in your home, but Carrino says it can also help to avoid a potential blockage of your HVAC system. If nothing is checked, a blockage could damage your equipment and reduce its effectiveness, letting you pay more for less heat.

It can be difficult to say if your HVAC system works at full capacity, especially if it slowly loses power over the years. If you want to keep your house tolerant this winter, Carrino recommends hiring a professional to test the components of your system to make sure they are in advanced shape.

"As units are aging, they do not work too," saysDaniel Quindemil, CEO of the construction company based in MiamiI am builders. "Getting a modern unit will keep your house hot during the winter."

Have a little more healing room in your budget? The upgrade of your boiler can help keep your home warm and your heating invoices are basic. Zeemil believes that new boilers are 90% more efficient than older models.

This is another addition to your existing heating system that can make a major difference when it comes to keeping your home warm. Quindemil says that the installation of a heat recovery fan "preheats the cold air coming from the outside and helps reduce the demand for your furnace", using the hot air that would otherwise escape your home.

If left unattended, cracks in your exterior bricks can affect the indoor temperature of your home by allowing the cold air to separate. It is in your interest to spray the joints of brick and mortar with [something like]The Thompson Water Seal, "saysMike Martin, founder ofRemodeling fee and owner of the MBM construction in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

The areas where cold air enters your home are not always so obvious as external cracks. If you really want to keep the cold, Dawson recommends adding the caulking or casualness of weather conditions around your points of sale, your plumbing devices and your CVC registers and vents.

No integrated chimney? No problem! Portable fireplaces have intensified their game in terms of aesthetics in recent years. "It adds a very nice design [element], the more he will keep you warm," says Quindemil.