Here at Frisco Insurance, we understand that it can be difficult to stay warm when the weather turns cold, at least if you don’t want to see your energy costs soaring.
Many people are concerned about cranking the heat because it’s just so expensive. With inflation and everything else going up in price, you’re trying to cut costs. The last thing you want is an excessively high energy bill.
That being said, you still need to have a home that is comfortable and safe. How can you do this without doubling your heating costs? Here are a few tactics that you can try that should fit easily within your budget, and some of them can even pay off with savings for years to come.
Install a humidifier
One potential home upgrade In Frisco, Texas, is to install a humidifier. You can use small, single-room humidifiers. But it is often more effective to simply have a humidifier that connects to your ductwork. When the heat runs, or when you just have the blower fan on, it pushes this humid air through your home, which can help you get the humidity level up to 30 or 40%.
The reason this helps is that air with this humidity level holds heat much better than dry air, thanks to the high specific heat of water itself. In other words, you don’t have to touch the thermostat, but your home is going to feel warmer than it would if you had dry air at the exact same temperature.
Add weatherstripping
Another simple upgrade is to put weatherstripping around doors and windows. Some people will even put clear plastic coverings over their windows. Heavy weatherstripping for exterior doors can be added in just an afternoon, and it’s often a DIY job. But it still fills in those gaps.
Remember, room air is always trying to reach an equilibrium when it comes to temperature. If you block these gaps, your house retains far more of the heat that your HVAC system creates. This means that your energy costs don’t go up and your heating system doesn’t work as hard.
Consider your clothing and use layers
Dressing in layers is so effective because you can adjust them easily as the heat changes. You can trap your own body heat with effective clothing options. For instance, simply wearing a base layer under your normal clothes makes you feel vastly warmer. This helps you resist the temptation to turn up the heat, but you still feel very comfortable.
Try to use non-cotton materials for your base layer, because you won’t get damp and cold. These materials can keep you warm even if they’re wet. Good options are polyester or silk.
Heat yourself from the inside out
Your intake itself has a drastic impact on your body’s core temperature. Drink warm beverages instead of a cold cup of water. Eat soup or chili instead of a cold meal. One easy way to do this is by using an electric kettle so that you’ll always have a nice cup of warm water at your fingertips.
Raising your body’s internal temperature means that you can keep the home at a lower temperature without feeling any less comfortable.
Explore other heating options
Finally, remember that you don’t have to heat the entire home. A wood or gas fireplace can heat your main living spaces, which are the areas where you’re going to be anyway. This makes you feel warm and comfortable, and it also takes some of the strain off of your HVAC system.
Your thermostat is going to check the temperature in the room where it’s located, so simply warming up that room means that your forced air heating system runs less often. Of course, if you’re considering fires and heating sources, you may be a little bit worried about the safety of your home. Be sure that you have proper home insurance coverage and consider working with professionals to make sure that the fireplace is up to code and ready to be used. Here at Frisco Insurance, we can help you look into all of the different insurance options that you have as an independent insurance agency with your best interests at heart. Call today!
