Staying Toasty in the Winter
Sitting beside a fireplace with a warm cup of coffee or tea in your hand while you’re wrapped in a warm blanket is an ideal winter setting for me. Staying warm and toasty during the winter is dreamy, but sometimes hard to come by. How can we stay warm while the temperatures drop and the clouds hide the sun? Here are a few tips to keep you on the right track.
Warm yourself, not your house first
It’s easy to go to the thermostat and quickly crank up the temperature, but that’s not always the best option. Houses often have pockets of warm areas while others stay cold. Turning on the heater will simply push all the air around in your house before it actually starts heating it up. Try grabbing a warm cup of coffee or tea. Put on a sweatshirt. Grab those soft, fluffy socks that someone put in your Christmas stocking. This way your body warms up first, while the house slowly gets on track.
Use your ceiling fan
Believe it or not, your ceiling fan can help heat up a room quickly and efficiently. Nearly all ceiling fans have a switch on the base of the fan that allows you to choose whether it runs clockwise or counterclockwise. What’s the difference? Clockwise pushes the air down, while counterclockwise pulls the air up. Since heat rises, make sure your fan is going clockwise so you can benefit from the warm air that’s already settled near your ceiling. Real estate tip: If you have house showings in the winter, make sure your fans are on and blowing the warm air down so it keeps your potential buyers warm while they peruse your house.
Find the drafts
Every house has drafts either under a door or around a window. If you see drafts around your house, use things like a pool noodle, rags, kitchen towels, etc. to block the cold air from coming in. Be sure to check the door that heads out to your garage. It’s one that is often missed.
Switch between cold and hot water
Basking in a hot shower is nice, but be cognizant of how much hot water you are using. Go between using hot and cold water can make sure you’re utilizing your hot water to its maximum abilities.
Use a schedule
Schedule your thermostat to go off when you are not home and turn on right before you get home so your home stays at the perfect temperature without using too much energy.
Next Steps
I’d love to chat more about ways to keep your house warm, especially if you are considering selling your home. Reach out anytime at traceyrice@kw.com or 405-226-3770.