Even though summer is around the corner, we are still in for some chilly days and nights ahead in Vancouver and surrounding area. And while it’s always tempting to crank the heat when we are feeling chilly at home, turning up the temperature is not the most cost effective or responsible way of staying warm — there are plenty of other ways to keep the heat up in your home without breaking the bank.
It’s a good idea to look at small and inexpensive ways to improve the heating in your home, small weather proofing improvements in places that are letting cold air in and warm air out. First, take a look at the weather stripping around your doors and the caulking around your windows to see if there are any weak spots or tears.
Next, look around to see where else heat might be escaping. Do you have a fireplace? When’s the last time you checked to see if the flue is closed tight? Or perhaps you want to take it a step further and seal off the chimney for the months of the year that it won’t be in use. Again, this doesn’t have to be a major job, you can simply purchase a chimney balloon that, once inflated and released up the chimney, blocks off the air flow.
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Another place air flow might be a problem is around electrical outlets. Slowly run your hand back and forth to see if the box around your light switch has been sealed properly. If you can feel cold air on your hand, you might want to remove the covering and insulate it properly. There are many tutorials online on how to do simple jobs like this and you’ll be amazed how these small things start to add up!
Now, how are your windows? Replacing all the windows in your home is a major job with a potentially high cost and may not be on the agenda for you at the present, but an alternative is covering them with clear plastic and sealing them off for the winter months when you wouldn’t have them open much anyway. Likewise, you can seal off the attic door or add more insulation in the top level of your home — heat rises so keeping the attic sealed off will help keep the heat down below.
Another excellent way to improve the heating in your home is by replacing your thermostat. Newer model thermostats give the option of being able to put the heating system in your home on a timer so it only kicks on at designated times. You can also set it so that the temperature in your never goes above your preferred setting. There’s no need to have a warm home when everyone is off at work — digital thermostats are great for coordinating your life with your comfort level at home.
Other tips and tricks to keep in mind are things like making sure your vents are not blocked when you do have the heater on. If you find that your bed is over the vent, this might be a great excuse to rearrange the furniture like you’ve been meaning to. You can also you can invest in some heavy curtains that help block the chill from the windows. But don’t forget to keep them open when the sun is shining and use the sun’s light and energy to your advantage.
Once you’ve sealed off all the sneaky air flow spots, you might want to consider looking at your home heating system. While replacing a furnace or boiler is a bigger investment than new weatherstripping, upgrading to a modern, high efficiency model that is the right fit for your home will save you money in the long run on your heating bills. Like us on Facebook to stay current with our promotions and sales.
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