The winter is here, and despite positive reports from Groundhog Phil, it looks like it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Cold temperatures can be hard for many people around the country to stick out, and getting comfortable can be a top priority.
That’s why it’s important to stay familiar with the many ways to heat a house. A warm home isn’t just about getting comfortable and cozy: it’s actually quite important for your overall health and well-being.
What are the best ways to keep a home warm and what should you try at your place? Read on and we’ll walk you through some great ideas.
1. Buy A Space Heater
One of the main reasons people struggling with heating their homes is because the process can be quite expensive. Running the heat all the time is sure to drive up the electric bill and create a budgeting nightmare that you have to face.
One way to circumvent this issue is to invest in a simple space heater. This is a small device that creates a great deal of heat and pushes it in one direction. If you’re sitting in one spot for most of the afternoon and just want to get a little toasty, this can be a much more cost-conscious solution.
All you have to do is plug the machine somewhere near you and point it in your direction. Voila, instant comfort. Many of these machines even have wheels so you can move them around the home with you as you go from place to place.
If you’re going to invest in a space heater it’s important to look at what model you want to buy. Getting a heater that is old and inefficient might push your energy bill up almost as much as heating the whole home would.
If you find a lean and efficient new model, however, you can save yourself cash and stay warm all at the same time.
2. Try A Smart Thermostat
What is the heating system in your home? If you’re still hooked up with one of those old-fashioned thermostats, you might be costing yourself a huge deal of money in the long-run.
Why? These thermostats blast out heat and use energy indiscriminately, meaning they can drive your energy bill through the roof.
It’s a much better idea to invest in one of the modern and programmable thermostats. These helpful devices allow you to turn the heat on and off only when you really need it to be running. Even for the most simple kind of device, you’ll be able to save a few hundred dollars.
More fancy models allow a wide range of benefits as well. You can turn your thermostat on and off using a phone app, for example, which means you can flip it off when you’ve forgotten to but already have headed out the door.
Some smart thermostats can also detect the temperature in your home and adjust themselves accordingly. It might even be able to learn your routine and adjust the heat in your home based on your normal day-to-day schedule.
Yes, these thermostats are nice and do require some upfront investment. However, you’re bound to save money in the long run by going with one of these high-tech models.
3. Forced Air Heating
If you still have an old system in your house, it’s more than time to update to a forced air heating system. This is, as of the time of writing, now the most common type of heating and cooling system in the United States.
How does it work? Air travels through a centralized location that handles both heating and cooling for the home and then is pushed through space via a series of air ducts. A heat pump or furnace is used to heat the air before it is transferred to the rest of your home.
Circulation of this air continues until your home reaches a particular temperature. If you don’t currently have a forced air heating system in your home, you should get with the times and have one installed right away.
4. Insulate Your Attic
Where does the greatest amount of cool air leak into the home? You might be surprised to hear this, but it’s actually though the attic. Compared to most of the home, attic construction often has much less insulation and protection.
If you can increase the amount of insulation in the attic, you can keep cold air out and decrease the amount of energy required to heat your home. Your home will likely even get less cold to begin with once you’ve taken this step.
This is a task that can be a DIY job if need be, and it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Yes, there will be some costs upfront but they aren’t too terrible given the amount of money you can save on your energy bill each month.
This insulation will even help you during the summer months where you have the opposite problem. It will help your home to remain cool even what it is hot and humid outside.
The Best Ways To Heat A House
If you’re looking to stay warm this cruel winter, you need to make yourself familiar with the best ways to heat a house. The above are just a few of the best modern tactics to ensure your home is warm and your energy bill is at an acceptable rate.
Need more homeowner tips, tricks, or advice? Keep scrolling our blog for much more information.
