09 Jul Warming to the Weather – How to Fix a Chillingly Cold Home
During the colder months, Australian homes prove how well-equipped they are for the summer, letting through a nice, cool breeze. Cold houses make it much harder to get up and out of bed in the morning and to find the motivation to do anything at all.
Try these cost-effective ways to warm your home and keep enjoying your house throughout winter.
Close Your Curtains at Night
This only works if you open your windows during the day, let the beautiful Australian winter sun in, and then close your curtains as the sun goes down. During the day, the sunlight’s radiant energy will flow in through your windows and heat up your house. You can then trap that energy by closing your curtains as the sun goes down.
Heavy curtains work best in this instance, but even just closing your blinds will help keep some of the day’s heat inside.
Outdoor Heaters
Outdoor patio heating extends the life of your outdoor entertaining area so that it can be used throughout winter. Why miss out on BBQ’s and dinners on the patio for half the year, when you can just heat it up or huddle around a pot belly.
Patio heaters come in many different shapes these days, powered by gas or electricity. They can be portable, hanging, mounted, or stand-alone, and pretty stylish and unobtrusive.
Indoor Heating
We all want to live and sleep in a warm, cozy home but, at the same time, we don’t want to have to take out a loan to pay the heating bill at the end of winter. Taking the time to choose the most effective heating for your home will both keep you warmer and save you money.
Electric heaters are great for small spaces or individual people, so if you are renting a small room in a shared house, they are definitely the way to go. Plus, they are cheaper to buy.
Many people prefer gas heating. It can be relatively cost-effective to run, however, you will need to get a good quality heater to begin with and have it serviced every few years.
Block Out Draughts
Most Australian homes are built for the summer – they welcome the breeze to come blowing through the house, cooling us against the heat, and there’s nothing better than a nice breeze during the summer. The problem is that, during winter, that breeze becomes a freezing draught that is hard to protect against.
Rubber seals that adhere to doors and windows can help you fight against cold draughts, and thick curtains help keep the warm air in and the cold air out, and door snakes that sit up against the bottom gap between the door and floor can make a big difference.
Close Off Rooms Not in Use
As well as sealing up doors in the rooms you are in, close the doors to the rest of your house (to the rooms you are not using). Smaller spaces are easier and cheaper to heat, so keep the spaces in your house small by shutting doors to bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
Keep in mind that life is all about perception. Use darker colored blankets around your house and give it the feel of a warm cozy home, and you will feel that much warmer instantly. Throw a rug down, put extra covers on your bed, boil the kettle and have a cup of tea and enjoy the cooler months.
