How to stay warm this winter (without heaters)

Well you know the drill. Winter’s coming, which means that it's gonna get cold. Brrr! Sure, you can crank up the heaters to keep your house warm and toasty. But then when you receive your heating bill, you’re likely to get an unpleasant surprise. 

While you don't want to transform your home into a balmy 24 degrees with a heater, you don't have to spend May to August shivering. There are ways to stay warm all season without getting stuck with an astronomical heating bill frm your heating appliances.

Using these alternative methods to stay warm this winter can cut down your bills drastically. 

What methods can you use to keep warm?

Close all Cracks

A drafty house tends to be a chilly home. If your house has older single pane windows or an unsealed door, warm air is probably seeping out into the cold outdoors and letting cold air in. This also happens through electrical sockets or holes near pipes. Maintaining the interior temperature will lead to a lower energy bill.

Check for drafts by looking for light coming in under the doors, windows or outlets. On a windy cold day, those poorly sealed areas let in cold air you can feel. Sealing these drafts is a simple DIY activity. Rolling up a spare towel and pressing it up against the bottom edge of the door is a fast and simple way to present air from escaping under a door. If there are cracks around your window frames or openings near electrical outlets, use caulk to seal them. 

Dress in Layers 

It's easier to change your body temperature than room temperature, not to mention more eco-friendly. Instead of turning up the heat, put on another layer of clothing.

Bundle up. Wear long underwear, sweaters, and even sleeping caps! Wear a cap or hat to keep your head warm. If you are headed outside, it is best to wear a scarf.

It’s not just how much you wear that helps you stay warm. What you wear also matters. Some of the best fabrics to don for warmth are:

• Wool
• Silk
• Flannel
• Fleece

For winter, moisture-wicking fabrics and natural fibres are perfect. Both silk and wool are breathable fabrics that tend to keep you warm and draw sweat away from your body. Many kinds of base-layers shirts and trousers are made from synthetic fibre that is wool, silk or breathable and moisture-wicking.

Flannel and fleece are popular in winter too. But it's best not to wear them directly against your skin, because they have no moisture wicking properties like wool or silk. After a while, your clothes will get damp because of the sweat and then when your body cools down, it makes you feel colder because of the dampness. 

Use Blankets

The best way to sleep this winter would be with cozy blankets. You will be able to enjoy a warm nap and a hot cup of coffee in style.

Turn on a Ceiling Fan

It probably seems counterintuitive to turn on a fan in the middle of winter. Won't a gentle flowing breeze make you feel more cold? Not if you are reversing the fan's direction. 

On the base, most ceiling fans have a simple switch that helps you to adjust the direction the fan blades spin in. In the winter, turn direction to clockwise or reverse. They will pull warm air up from the floor toward the ceiling as the blades spin, letting the warmer air move through a room.

Curtains

Curtains are a great way to keep the heat in at night. For best results, open blinds and curtains during the day to let warmth in and a close up when dusk begins. This is a nifty trick that can help you cut down your energy bill. For best results opt for curtains that have a thermal lining or are thick in nature.

Use a Humidifier

The temperature does not entirely determine how warm the air feels, humidity also plays a part. A dry day of 15 degrees and 80 percent relative humidity feels much warmer than a day with 15 degrees with no humidity. 

Make the house feel better in the winter by introducing warmth back into the air using a humidifier. It also helps to maintain healthy and moisturize skin all season long. 

If you don't have a humidifier, boil a big pot of water on the burner, turn off the heat, and let the air be moisturised by the water vapour. Or you can also position a water bowl or pot next to a radiator or vent. The warm air will blow over the water, speeding up evaporation.

Beautiful Rugs

Finally, use rugs and matts throughout your home. Tiled and concrete floors tend to stay cool. Instead of opting for underfloor heating, mats and rugs are a great way to warm your feet and add style to your home.

Depending on where you live and whether you use gas, electricity, or even solar power, heating is often one of the highest utility costs. If you want to save some money, getting creative and finding ways to stay cozy without raising your thermostat helps. It is best to keep your heating system in check by hiring professionals to conduct a efficiency and lifespan check-up. 

Service.com.au provides thousands of users with various businesses from interior design to carpentry and heating. Simply search for tradesmen in your area and select the business that best suits your needs. 

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