Winter is coming, and it’s only a matter of time before temperatures drop and things get a little frosty. And you’ve got more to worry about than just the temperatures outside – how will you efficiently keep the interior of your home warm when the weather outside is anything but? Superior HVAC is here with ways to heat your home and keep it warm in the winter (without blowing your budget).
Best ways to heat your home
You’ve got a lot of options when it comes to the ways to heat your home. How you keep the temps inside your house toasty depends on your preferences, your home itself, and how much you want to spend. Common options include:
- Central heating systems
- Furnaces
- Boilers
- Space heaters
- Wood burning stoves
- Fireplaces
- Heat pumps
If you’re unsure as to which is the best option for heating your home, be sure to contact an expert before you open your wallet. You’ll want to make sure that the option you choose is compatible with your needs and your home’s capabilities.
Related: HVAC Repairs and Upgrades to Consider Before Winter Hits
How to keep your house warmer in the winter
Now that you know the best ways to heat your home, you have to consider how to keep it warm in the winter. You can blast your heat all day but if you don’t take the proper steps to keep heat in, you’ll find yourself shivering and with a high electric or oil bill. Here are some tips for keeping your home warm in the winter
Get a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to have the heat turned down when you’re not home (or while you’re sleeping under a stack of blankets), and turned back up when you need it most. Smart thermostats are affordable and easy to use.
Check your heating vents. You should give your heating vents a onceover every fall to ensure they’re ready for the winter season. All vents should be at least 25% open for the best performance, and make sure that rugs, furniture, and other objects aren’t blocking the vents.
Insulate your windows. Do you feel drafts around your windows? This can kill the heat that you’re trying to maintain in your home. Purchase window insulation kits from a home improvement store near you – they’re designed to create a barrier around windows to keep heat in and cold out. You should also check the exterior caulk and weatherstripping to ensure it’s in good condition and repair it if it’s not.
Look for a door draft stopper. Cold air has a tendency to sneak in underneath doors, too. A door draft stopper is placed in front of doors to prevent cold air from leaking in.
Let the sun in. Sunlight is a great (and free!) way to heat things up inside your home. Open your curtains to let as much light in as possible during the day to naturally warm rooms.
Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan. Set your ceiling fans to run counter-clockwise – this will allow them to push warm air down to you instead of pulling warm air up toward the ceiling.
Keep all the interior doors of your house open. This will allow warm air to circulate evenly throughout your home and help you regulate the temperature more easily.
Check your home’s insulation. Have an expert out to inspect your home’s insulation if it’s been a while – it may be time to add or replace insulation to better regulate the temps on the inside of your home.
What’s the best temperature for your heater in winter?
Now you know the options for heating and ways to keep your home warmer… So let’s talk numbers. What is the best temperature for your heater in winter? People will argue into oblivion about this topic, and it really depends on your personal preference and how warm you want your home. However, we recommend around 68 degrees during the day and 64-66 degrees at night to be comfortable AND cost-effective.
Get more tips for the best ways to heat your home from Superior HVAC
Want more tips or think your heating system needs a little TLC before winter hits? Contact Superior HVAC today.