A sharp drop in temperature during the colder winter months can greatly affect your comfort levels at home. Read on for our top tips for combating the cold this winter.
Reverse your ceiling fans
Ceiling fans provide great air circulation and you can take advantage of this by ensuring the rotation of the fan blades is correct for circulating warm air during winter. As we all know, hot air rises, so ensure that your fan is switched to its winter setting during the colder months as this will effectively move the trapped warm air that’s up around the ceiling. The fan blades should turn in a clockwise motion as this movement will force the warm air down the sides of the room, improving heat distribution and allowing you to stay warmer.
Install an automatic garage door opener
The installation of an automatic garage door opener is a welcome relief during the colder months, protecting you from getting out of the car in the cold and rain to manually open the garage door. Leading manufacturer, Merlin, provides an affordable and professional solution that will transform your existing manual garage door into a new remote controlled door, allowing you to operate your door with the push of a button, from the comfort of your car. Merlin’s automatic openers are designed to be attached to your existing garage door by a professional installer to provide years of convenience. It doesn’t matter if you own a roller, sectional or tilt garage door, Merlin has an automatic garage door opener solution to suit and is part of the world’s largest manufacturer of automatic garage door openers, the Chamberlain Group.
Harness the sun
On sunny winter days, get outside to soak up some rays, replenish your vitamin D levels and warm yourself by using the heat from direct sunlight. To keep you warm within your home, your home needs to receive as much sunlight as possible, so open your blinds and curtains and consider pruning your trees and shrubs to allow the sunlight through. Another method of introducing more sun into your home is installing a skylight. The skylight will provide warmth and lighting and will also minimise heating and lighting costs.
Draught-proof your home
By ensuring that all your windows and doors are sealed and airtight, you can minimise heat transfers and prevent draughts from entering your home. During cold periods, make sure that your windows and doors are latched and closed properly. You can even purchase removable window-caulk to better seal windows and draught stoppers for the bottom of your doors.
Insulate your ceiling
Insulating the ceiling of your home will also further prevent heat transfers throughout your home – keeping heat from escaping during winter and helping to keep you warm. In addition, your heating and cooling appliances will not have to work as hard to regulate temperature, saving you money on your energy bills.
Close off any unused rooms
The closed door makes that room another barrier between you and the frigid outdoors. It also stops air from circulating as much, which reduces heat loss.
Put down a rug or carpet
Rugs and carpets effectively help prevent heat loss through the floor and offer a warmer surface to walk on as they are generally warmer to touch than floor boards and tiles. You can lose as much as 20% of your body’s heat though your feet, so throw those thick winter socks on and stick to the carpet and rugs.
Get cooking!
Cooking with the oven will help dry the air and heat the kitchen, so get started on those slow cooked meals, winter pies and roasts. Lowering humidity in the winter time helps you to feel warmer. Limit cooking that gives off steam as this make your house damp.