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It’s that time of year again! No, we’re not talking about the holiday season. We’re talking – of course – about the change in weather.
As far as those living in the northern hemisphere are concerned, the next several months are when temperatures plummet, snow falls, and shivering is a fact of life.
To make matters worse, those relying on natural gas to heat their homes are in for a rude awakening. According to Time, it’s going to be a lot more expensive to heat your home this winter compared to previous years.
The reasons why range from inflation to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at six ways to lower your home heating costs this winter:
Seal cracks and gaps in doors and windows
If your home is older – and even if it isn’t – there’s a good chance there are significant cracks and gaps in your window and door frames. It’s mostly due to the building settling into its foundation over time and distorting frames in the process.
Unfortunately, they make it easy for cold air to penetrate your dwelling. Go through your house and examine every door and window for cracks and gaps.
Bundle up and get cozy
The simplest way to lower your home heating costs this winter is to lower the thermostat. But that’s easier said than done. Nobody wants to be shivering on their sofa all winter long. The solution is to bundle up and layer up. Start by wearing the right clothes.
Start with heavy sweaters and luxury sweatpants and follow up with thick socks and insulated house slippers. Make sure there are always plenty of throw blankets available as well. The additional warmth these provide will offset the chill of keeping your thermostat below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stay active indoors
No matter how much you bundle up indoors, chances are you’ll find yourself shivering a bit if you choose to keep the thermostat low.
Rather than give into temptation and crank it up, consider doing some moderate physical activity. Trust us…a handful of pushups or situps will end with you feeling warm and maybe even a little toasty.
You could also choose to go for a quick quasi-jog through the house to generate a decent amount of heat within yourself.
Upgrade your insulation
Now onto the more labor-intensive options. Perhaps the insulation in your walls and ceilings needs replacing? It’s not the easiest of solutions, but upgrading the insulation in your home is not an impossible task from the do-it-yourself perspective.
While it requires careful research and planning beforehand, insulation upgrades are sure to help keep your home warm this winter. Even if you have to call in the professionals to get it done right, the long-term savings will be worth the initial investment.
Replace your windows
The next major home improvement job you may consider is having your windows replaced. The unfortunate reality is that most windows in older homes do a bad job of keeping the cold air out after so many years.
While the initial investment is significant – the cost is likely to be somewhere around $500 per window – the long-term savings will more than likely make up for the expense. Even if you choose to sell your home in the next five years, the new windows will increase the value of your home and thus help you get the best sales price.
Stick to hot foods and warm drinks
In today’s world, heating up foods and beverages take more effort than chilling them. That’s because the fridge and freezer will do the chilling work for you, while any effort to heat anything up requires the microwave at the least.
But when it comes to staying warm this winter, sticking to hot food and warm beverages will go a long way in keeping you and your loved ones sufficiently comfortable. Whether it requires the stovetop, oven, microwave, or crockpot, make a point to heat up your meals and drinks this winter.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…so they say. Other than the holiday cheer, this time of year is mostly synonymous with cold weather – as far as those in the northern hemisphere are concerned.
That means our climate control costs soar – or does it? There are several ways homeowners can keep their home heating costs low this winter. It’s just a question of whether or not they take advantage. What will you do?
Michael Driver is a freelance writer from Texas. He enjoys covering topics related to history, science, and technology. Michael can be reached at ReddishRaddish87@gmail.com.
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