5 ways to keep your house warm

With fall and the colder months approaching, it can be difficult to keep a house warm. Central heating can be expensive, and you might want to find other ways to regulate temperature without reaching for the thermostat. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep your home warm without increasing your bills, says Cory Real Estate Services. Being smart, understanding where the heat can escape from, and doing some work on your home will make a big difference.

Here are 5 ways to keep your house warm.

Window repair and replacement

First and foremost, your windows could be letting in a draught, especially if one is torn, loose, brittle or damaged. Stress cracks, for example, can occur from shading in the home. If one area of the window is shaded and cold and another part is in direct sun, the heat can cause stress on the glass, making it crack. So, before doing anything else, check your windows and organize screen repair and replacement if there are any damages.

Close the drapes

Additionally, windows that aren’t damaged could still be letting in a draft – particularly if you don’t have double glazing. It’s important to keep the blinds or drapes closed once it gets dark to retain heat. A heavy set of drapes will act as the best insulator, as they limit the flow of air between the warm and cold areas of the room.

Block draughts

Draughts can come from various places. But, most commonly, cold air will enter underneath doors. So, try to block them out. If your back door is letting in a cold draught, for example, try rolling up a blanket and putting it where the gap is. Or, for a longer-term fix, attach weather-stripping tape or a brush-style strip to the bottom of the door. Rugs work well, too, as draughts can often be let in via floorboards. Other areas that commonly let in draughts include chimneys and attic spaces.

Rearrange furniture

Considering the likelihood of draughts in the home, you won’t be surprised to hear that the placement of your furniture matters. A sofa near a window, for example, is more likely to feel chilly compared to a sofa in the center of the room. So, consider rearranging your furniture in the colder months. If you end up putting the heating on, you might also want to consider pushing your sofa away from the radiator. A bulky item can block the heat from spreading to the entire room, making it a little pointless.

Utilize the kitchen

You might find that the kitchen gets warm once you start cooking. So, if you don’t want to turn on the central heating, why not spend more time in the kitchen? It might sound silly, but spending time in a room that has become naturally warm will save money on heating bills and will feel nice and toasty. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your kitchen!