Advice for Being Warm and Comfortable in Winter

As winter’s chill lingers for yet another month, ensuring your home stays warm and cozy is a top priority. Staying comfortable within your residence when the temperature plummets outside doesn’t have to be such a struggle. With the following effective strategies, you can maintain warmth in winter, making your residence a pleasant retreat from the cold.

Utilize the Sun’s Light and Heat

Maximizing natural light is a powerful and simple way to stay warm when it’s cold outside. Begin by opening your curtains right when the sun appears. This lets light to stream in, naturally warming the room. Placing furniture close to the windows helps make the most of this warmth. In south- or west-facing rooms that are recipients of the most sunlight, try laying a dark-colored rug on the floor to absorb heat and slowly emit it into the room, even after the sun goes down.

Then, remember to close your window coverings after dark to insulate the glass against the cold night air. For improved insulation, use thermal curtains or cellular shades designed to stop heat loss. By leveraging the sun’s energy this way, you can enhance home comfort and reduce reliance on your heater.

Stop Heat Loss

Retaining warm air inside is essential to staying warm in winter. Begin by inspecting your home for drafts, especially around windows and doors. Apply weather stripping or caulking to any gaps or cracks you find to help prevent heat loss.

Think about replacing old single-pane windows with contemporary double-pane versions, which insulate with a pocket of air between the panes. If this improvement isn’t within your budget, hang heavy, insulating curtains or install insulating window film to fight drafts.

Next, examine the insulation level in your attic. Given that heat rises, this is a typical area for heat loss to take place. Adding additional insulation stops warm air from getting away. Additionally, examine your home’s ductwork, as leaks here can result in considerable heat loss.

Keep Your Furnace Tuned Up

Regular furnace maintenance is crucial for efficient functionality and longevity, especially during an intense cold snap. Thankfully, you can do many tasks to help your furnace run reliably all winter.

First, replace the air filter on a regular basis. A clean filter boosts airflow and efficiency while reducing the strain on your furnace. Make it a habit to check the filter monthly and replace it when it looks dirty or every three months, whichever comes first.

It’s also crucial to keep the area near your heating system free. Remove any clutter to ensure proper air circulation and avoid fire potential dangers. Staying on the subject of air circulation, keep all your return and supply vents unobstructed and clear. It’s tempting to shut vents in unused rooms, but this disrupts the return/supply air balance and may cause your furnace to overheat.

Then, engage a technician to check and clean your furnace every year. This professional can handle any minor matters before they become significant problems, lowering the risk of a mid-season breakdown. You can also ask for personalized tips to help your system function effectively. Moreover, think about having your ductwork professionally sealed and insulated. This decreases heat loss and enhances heating system efficiency.

Embrace Smart Thermostat Technology

If you still possess an old manual thermostat, contemplate upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat for better temperature control and energy savings. A programmable thermostat enables you to set your desired temperature at different times of the day and days of the week according to your schedule and comfort preferences.

A smart thermostat goes beyond this by enabling you to monitor and control the temperature virtually using a smartphone app. Many models can even be modified with your preferred home automation voice assistant, including Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Learning thermostats handle the tasks, calculating your schedule, tracking when you’re home or away and adjusting the heat accordingly. This provides a warm, comfortable home with the lowest energy bills possible.

Another advantage of smart thermostats is their ability to offer detailed energy usage reports. These insights aid you in understanding your heating routines and spot opportunities to save. Automatic filter change alerts are also useful for reminding you about this vital maintenance responsibility.

Keep Warm and Cozy in Edmonton with McKinley Heating Service Experts

The team at McKinley Heating Service Experts is here to help you enjoy a cozy and inviting home no matter how cold it gets in Edmonton. Our certified technicians provide fast, long-lasting work, from preventive maintenance and emergency repairs to complete HVAC installations and replacements. Thanks to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can be sure that McKinley Heating Service Experts won’t mark the job complete until you’re satisfied with the results.

For expert support that matches our name, call 780-800-7092 today!