As the temperature starts to drop, people all around the country start to drag their heaters out in order to keep warm and cosy. While this is an easy solution, it can cause a lot of pain when the post winter heating bills roll in. After all, it’s not unheard of for electricity bills to double or even triple due to using heaters in the home!  Save the pain on your hip pocket and keep comfortable this winter by utilising one or more of our tips to warm up without electricity.  For more ideas, talk to your local heating specialist.

Close Your Windows and Seal up the Gaps

One of the best things that you can do is to ensure that your windows are closed and that you have no gaps in your window frames, door frames or anywhere else in the home.  Making your home as airtight as possible will ensure that the heat that is already in your home won’t escape.

Close Off the Rooms You Don’t Use

Closing the doors to the rooms that you don’t use is actually a great tip for keeping your room warmer as the air in the rooms that you’re using won’t have to circulate as much, thus reducing heat loss.  If you are using a gas heater, you’ll only have to heat the rooms that you use.

Use Window Coverings Wisely

Use heavy curtains on your windows and open and close them judiciously.  During the day, open them up to allow the sun to come in and naturally warm your room. At night, draw them to keep the cold out and to stop heat escaping from the home.

Cover Bare Floors

Rooms that have hard floor coverings such as timber or tiles tend to radiate chill upwards into the room.  You can minimise that by covering bare floors with large area rugs.  The bonus is that you won’t have to walk on freezing cold tiles!

Remember to Insulate

One of the best ways to stop heat escaping is to add insulation to your walls and ceiling at a minimum, and under the floors as well if necessary.  Look for insulation with a high R-value as it will tend to be more effective. Insulation stops the heat from leaving the home in winter and as an added bonus, it will stop unwanted heat from entering in summer.  It’s win win all year round!

Dress Warmly

Many people tend to turn a heater on before they’ll think of adding another layer of clothing.  Simply wearing a beanie or adding a hoodie or dressing gown to your outfit can make you much warmer and you may not even need to turn your heater on at all!

Use Gas Heating

If you absolutely need to use a heater in your home despite following all of the above tips, a gas heater is usually much more energy efficient than their electric alternatives.  Gas heaters can heat your whole home or just one room, depending on your needs.