They say spring is around the corner, but we know better! In February, even in warm places, the weather gets pretty cold. If you’re used to soaring temperatures most of the year, the change in climate can hit you hard. In fact, it can feel as if you’re in Antarctica sun-bathing with Emperor penguins! The truth is you’re sat at home wondering why your home feels like an igloo. Instead of sitting there wondering, you should do something about it. If you follow a few of these nifty DIY tricks, your home will feel like a greenhouse. Plus, the movement will warm up your blood!
Switch To Thick Curtains
There is no doubt that blinds are very fashionable. Yes, they look great swinging from the windows, all wooden and sleek. The thing is they have zero insulation properties when it comes to heat. Curtains, on the other hand, are brilliant at stopping the warm air from leaving. Because they have thick material, the hot air gets trapped in the fabric. And, if the curtains are a light color, they will reflect them back into the house. Curtains might not be your cup of tea style-wise, but you need to think about style over substance.
But Open Them In The Day
The one thing to remember about curtains is that they need to be open during the day. Closing them at night is great, but closing them in the day is just going to block the sunlight. Even in the winter months, the sun shines and gives off ultraviolet rays. The rays, in concentrated form, contain a lot of heat and will increase the temperature in your house. All you have to do is close them at night and draw them in the morning. It couldn’t be simpler.
Remove The Windows
Removing the windows might sound counterproductive – it’s just going to leave a big hole! But, that hole will have another set of windows, ones that love warm air and hate cold air. Window replacement is one of the oldest tricks in the book because windows are notorious for draughts. Lots of houses don’t have correctly set windows, so there is a big gap for the cold air to come through. Others don’t have double glazing, the windows with a vacuum that traps cold air because it is a relatively modern invention. As a result, a change of windows will make your home a lot warmer.
Clear The Path For Heat
You can’t see heat because it exists in gas form. The bad thing about this is you can’t see when you are blocking its path. And you probably are blocking its path if you feel like you’re going to freeze to death! Just because it is a gas doesn’t mean it can move through other objects. Objects like furniture will either block it or soak it up, so it won’t circulate as effectively. Move everything out of the way of the radiators and there will be a big difference regarding temperature.
There is no need to rip out the boiler to make your house warmer as a few simple tricks will do the job.
Thanks for the great tips! Winter can be really miserable, especially if you’re trying not to overdo it on the central heating. I live in an apartment right now and it’s always freezing because of the glass sliding doors letting out all the heat. I really wish I could modify the interior. The only solution I can think of would be taping garbage bags over them, but then I couldn’t get out onto the balcony.