5 Ways to Make Your Home Warmer Without Turning Up the Thermostat

No one wants an enormous heating bill, but spending all winter shivering under a blanket isn’t practical either. Fortunately, by making a few adjustments and home improvements this winter, you can rely less on your heating system and start saving money.

Use these tips to keep your home warm and cozy and help your heating system work as efficiently as possible.

1. Let in sunlight during the day.

If you have sun-facing windows, leave your blinds and draperies open during the day so that sunlight can add warmth to your home for free. Just don’t forget to close your window treatments at night so that the heat doesn’t transfer outside.

2. Use energy-efficient curtains or blinds.

Window treatments can have a significant impact on a room’s temperature. To keep heat trapped inside your home, opt for drapes or blinds that have insulating properties. Some good examples include Roman shades, thermal curtains, and cellular shades.

3. Weather-seal your windows and doors.

Have you ever noticed that it’s draftier close to your doors and windows? That’s because your home loses heat due to air leaks in these areas. You can eliminate air leaks by caulking or placing weather stripping around the edges of your windows and updating the sweeps on your exterior doors. For help locating additional air leaks and sources of heat loss and energy waste, you’ll get the best results by having a home performance evaluation (or energy audit).

4. Update your attic insulation.

There’s a good chance that you already have insulation in your attic. However, if your home has a hard time keeping heat in during winter and keeping heat out during summer, your current insulation is most likely inadequate.

To save money, many home builders will install the minimum amount of insulation required in new homes. It’s also possible for old insulation to settle and lose its effectiveness. Rather than heading to a home improvement store, it’s best to involve an insulation expert so that you can determine exactly where insulation would best benefit you and what type is best suited for your home.

5. Regularly change your furnace’s air filter.

If you allow your furnace’s air filter to get dirty, then you’re going to end up with airflow issues. Dirty filters prevent adequate airflow from circulating through your heating system. Not only can this cause the equipment to struggle and overheat, but it can also lead to weak airflow out of your air vents.



Whether you need a home performance evaluation or basic heating maintenance, our experts at Tom's Mechanical, Inc. are ready to assist: (972) 388-3669.