Keeping your house warm in the winter can feel like an uphill battle. And the energy bills can be enough to send you into shock. Save energy and reduce your heat bill by using a few simple tricks to keep that expensive heat where it belongs—inside, benefiting you and your family.

1. Caulk Windows

Drafty windows are one of the leading causes of chilly homes in the winter. If you can’t afford to replace your windows, repair the ones you have. Caulking windows can reduce the number of drafty holes in the spaces between your windows and the walls.

2. Use Solar Curtains

Drafts are more likely to get inside your home through windows and doors. Use your windows to your advantage by covering them with solar curtains. Some curtains are thick and dark and block sound as well as cool air. Others use the heat of the sun to gently warm your home—and fight off cold breezes.

3. Cover Hardwood or Tile Floors

Hardwood floors are highly coveted these days. Yet the wood does little to keep your rooms warm and cozy. Use area rugs to keep high-traffic spaces a little warmer in the wintertime. You can easily remove the rugs during the summer or when you want to show off your hardwood floors again!

4. Upgrade Your Insulation

Preserve your precious heat by updating your home’s insulation. Older homes especially need an update. You can use spray insulation for a quick fix for most rooms. Some areas, like the attic, might need a heavy-duty update with fiberglass insulation. Yet the price for the additional insulation might actually lower your heating bill.

5. Draft Dodgers

Keep drafty doors under control with draft dodgers. The spaces underneath your doors can allow cool drafts to creep inside your home and precious heat to escape. You can even use draft dodgers on drafty windows. Use them in conjunction with insulation kits and caulking to keep your home as warm as possible.

6. Insulation Kits

If your windows are still letting in cold air, consider installing an insulation kit. These kits come with double-sided tape and a large sheet of plastic. You can attach the plastic to your windowsill and use a hairdryer to keep the plastic taut. This will seal your windows and keep out breezy drafts.

7. Reverse Fan Trick

Heat rises, which can make your ceilings warm and your living spaces cold. Bring heat down to your living areas by installing a ceiling fan and putting it on reverse mode. Instead of creating a draft, your fan will push warm air down to the floors and middle of the room.

8. Seal Unused Space

Don’t waste heat on areas of your home that are unused. Seal off unused rooms like the attic or bonus room of your home with draft dodgers. Keep the heat off in these rooms. Your warm air will be dispersed throughout the rooms you use and won’t be wasted on unused spaces.

9. Tune Up Your Furnace

If your furnace isn’t performing up to standard, you’ll end up losing even more precious heat. Make sure you aren’t wasting electricity or oil by keeping your furnace well maintained. A furnace tune-up will keep your furnace running properly and your home warm and cozy.

10. Program Your Thermostat

Ensure your home is warm during optimal times. Program your heat to turn up 45 minutes before you wake up in the morning and 45 minutes before you arrive home at night. By the time you’re around and about, your home will be just the right temperature.

Keep your home as warm as your heart with these simple tricks. Then, give Arctic Air Heating & Cooling a call for a furnace tune-up in Gladstone MO to ensure your furnace is working as efficiently as possible.