We’ve certainly experienced a shift in morning temperatures over the past week or two as we move into the winter months. As the weather starts to cool down, now is a good time to take a look at ways you can decrease your heater usage for the colder months ahead.
Heating your home all winter can take its toll on the power bill. Now, with more people working from home, heaters are on for longer periods and as a result power bills will steeply increase.
Here are some handy tips for setting up your home this winter:
CLOSE UP ANY CRACKS IN YOUR WINDOW FRAMES
The tiniest crack can allow a surprising amount of heat to escape and for chilly winds to come in. Use a torch at nighttime to check for any unnoticed cracks. Have someone stand on the other side of your light source and if you can see it, chalk the area to seal the crack.
REVERSE THE CEILING FAN DIRECTION
Ceiling fans aren’t just for hot, humid days. By reversing the direction of your fan to clockwise, it creates an updraft that pushes the hot air near the ceiling back down to where you’re sleeping. This is a commonly missed feature and much more cost-efficient than other forms of heating.
INVEST IN QUALITY BLANKETS
There is no better feeling than getting toasty under a pile of thick, quality blankets on your bed or on the couch.
MAKE YOUR CURTAINS WORK HARDER
When that gorgeous winter sun is out, keep curtains open, so warmth can fill your home. But as soon as the sun goes down, close them up to add an extra layer of insulation.
USE DRAFT STOPPERS
Like small cracks in your window frames, don’t let the cold air creep through the crack under the door. Seal off the chilly breeze with a draft stopper or door snake.
RUGS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND
For those of you that live in a Queensland style home, you’ll have felt the cool air rise from beneath your feet as the winter months cool the earth’s topsoil. A great way to prevent this is to use rugs made of fabric that offer insulation, like wool, to help retain the heat inside and feel nice and cosy on your feet. Plus, rugs can bring a whole new aesthetic appeal to the room or space.
NOT IN USE, CLOSE IT UP
Close off rooms that aren’t in use, for example, your guest bedroom if it’s not in use. Close any vents and the main room door, and it’ll be one less room you need to heat or space for heat to escape into.