Cheap Ways to Keep Your House Warm in Cold Weather

With the sharp drop in temperatures in winter, many people find they have the heating on almost 24 hours a day for weeks on end.  It’s important to stay protected as cold weather can affect your body’s ability to fight viruses and infections and staying warm helps you stay well.

Cheap ways to keep your house warm

Cheap ways to keep your house warm in cold weather include concentrating the heating in the main room of the house where family members congregate during the day. It is also vital you keep your heating system in good shape with regular servicing to keep it efficient. It is important to not let heat escape by draught proofing doors and windows.

But not everyone can afford to keep the heating on all the time.  Fuel poverty is a real concern in this country and although there is some government help available, there are other ways you can protect yourself.  Here, we look at how to use your home heating more efficiently and other tips to stay warm in winter.

Cheap home heating tips for winter

Heat your main living area during the day to 18 – 21⁰C

This is around number 3 on your radiator thermostat.  Other areas of the house that you use frequently should also be heated.  The rest of the house can be less than this but not below 16⁰C.

Concentrate the heat in the main room

If you aren’t able to heat all the rooms in the house, make sure you have your main living area heated to a comfortable temperature during the day and turn the heating on in your bedroom before you go to bed.

Your bedroom temperature should be above 18⁰C through the night and you can use a portable heater or fire in the bedroom for this, but have some ventilation coming with either a door or window open a little.  You can also use an electric blanket.

Rearrange the furniture

When it comes to keeping your home warm and cosy, furniture placement is critical. First and foremost, ensure that your sofa (or anything else) is not blocking the radiator. If we’re feeling chilly, we’re all tempted to move closer to a source of heat, especially if we plan on relaxing in a chair or on our sofa.

What you don’t want is to block the heat from entering the room and preventing it from circulating.

Close your curtains early in the evening

During cold weather, it will keep the heat inside your room and keep out harsh weather elements.  Draw your curtains as soon as it gets dusk outside. Tuck them up on the window frame if radiators are immediately below them, otherwise all the heat cannot go into the room.

Stay in one room

During evenings when everyone is at home, try to stay in one room as much as possible, rather than in separate rooms. This makes heating up one room easier and cheaper.

Set the timer to come on one hour before you get out of bed

If you can’t keep the heating on all night, set the timer on the boiler or controls thermostat to come on an hour before you get up so the house is warm enough when you get out of bed.  You don’t want to be cold while you wait for your home to become warm.

Keep your heating system in good shape

Keep your heating system regularly maintained with an annual service, whether that is a boiler or a gas fire.  You will be using heating appliances for longer periods so make sure they are safe to use.

Hometree can provide home heating cover for you throughout the year. Click here to go to our recommended page and see how they can help.

Install draught proofing around doors and windows

Draught proofing allows you to seal the gaps in your existing windows, extending their life. This not only keeps cold air out, but it also prevents dirt and dust from entering your home.

New windows can cost thousands of pounds, but draught proofing is less expensive. Importantly, it will keep the heat in so you are not wasting energy.

Install thermostatic radiator valves

The main advantage of thermostatic radiator valves is their ability to save energy. Use your TRV settings to control individual room temperatures and save money by avoiding overheating, which is common with manual valves. You can switch off radiators in rooms you’re not using.

Ways to keep your body warm in winter

Use a good quality hot water bottle

If using a hot water bottle buy a good quality one and remember to not fill it with boiling water, it should be warm.  It is also not a good idea to use a hot water bottle while using an electric blanket at the same time.

Eat warm foods

Eat a balanced diet so you get a variety of nutrients and minerals and have at least one hot meal a day.

Stay Active

If it’s too cold to go out, make sure you stay active by exercising at home or doing household tasks to keep you physically busy.

Wear multiple layers of clothing

It’s better to wear more thin layers than one thick layer of clothing in the cold due to the insulation effect of the number of layers. Prepare beforehand with winter clothing such as hats, scarves and gloves so you do not have to shop for them in the cold.

Wear thermal underwear to keep you warm at night as well as other night time clothing.

Summary

Here are some simple and cheap tips to keep your house warm in winter:

• Heat your main living area during the day to 18-21 degrees Celcius.
• Concentrate the heat in the main room.
• Rearrange the furniture.
• Close your curtains early in the evening.
• Stay in one room.
• Set the time to come on one hour before you get out of bed.
• Keep your heating system in good shape.
• Install draught proofing around doors and windows.
• Install thermostatic radiator valves.