Winter is officially upon us! The Sentry Window Guard family is pleased to offer these tips to keep your home warmer this winter season, saving you money and making your friends and family more comfortable.
- Program your thermostat: Technology has come a long way, baby, and that includes when it comes to programming your home’s temperature. In fact, there are several thermostats that “learn” and automatically create programs optimized for your home and family needs. This Old House recommends programming your thermostat in the following manner. They also recommend keeping your home at a chill 55 degrees if you are out on vacation.
- 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. = 68 degrees
- 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. = 60 degrees
- 5:30 to 11 p.m. = 68 degrees
- 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. = 60 degrees
- Keep warm air in by sealing leaks: The rising warm air in a home will pull in cool air from the outside through any gap it can find. Gaps are most commonly found in windows and doors. Old weather stripping, rickety doors and ill-fitting windows, especially in historical townhomes or in tall homes, can create quite a chill as the warm air moves further up and the cold air moves in. Replace your weather stripping and use door snakes or other tools to seal the leaks. You’ll be quite surprised at how much warmer an area will feel with the leaks sealed.
- Close those doors: If you are not using parts of your home, whether for a few hours or several days, close the doors to create a warm space. You could even close off a room overnight so it will be toasty warm first thing in the morning.
- Reverse your ceiling fans: Most ceiling fans have a switch that reverses the blade movement, thus pushing the heat down instead of up, up and away. Don’t waste that heat; leverage your existing fans to push it back down into your room.
- Consider a portable space heater (carefully): Bankrate.com notes that it is a myth that portable space heaters are energy hogs. In fact, they can efficiently and economically heat a small space quickly. Stay safe, though, but doing what the National Fire Association suggests and clearing a 3 ft area around the heater, turning it off when not around, and not using an extension cord.
- Redecorate with energy efficient window coverings: You probably put away flannel sheets and thermal clothing in the spring, but do you bring out the heavier window coverings in the winter? Covering your windows with heavier drapes can keep the warm in and the cold out. Bankrate.com reminds us to not let that fabric lay on radiators, floor registers or floor heating units.
Here at Sentry Window Guards, we know that a home is where your heart is, especially during the chilly winter months. Safety and comfort make staying in a pleasure! Consider using these tips to save some money and create a toasty environment, too.
