If you’re worried about heating costs going up, you’re certainly not alone. It feels like all costs are going up in Rockwall, Texas. Energy costs are definitely not excluded from this.
Unfortunately, whenever cold weather strikes, this can put people in something of a bind. You want to stay safe, warm and healthy, but it can feel unaffordable to simply crank up the thermostat. You’re already paying around 17% more for your energy costs, if you’re like many average Americans. Do you want to increase that even more?
Thankfully, there are other tactics you can use to ensure that your home stays warm and that you get through any cold snaps without issue. Here are a few tips that can help.
Wear Layers
Learning how to properly layer is a game-changer for heat. This may be as simple as wearing a sweater over a T-shirt, but you can even get deeper into it than that. For instance, look at the layering systems used in the mountains. People often wear a synthetic base layer, a fleece layer over that, and then a soft shell on top of everything else. One of the benefits of this type of layering is that you can choose materials other than cotton. Synthetic materials can still keep you warm even when they get wet, keeping you from being damp and sweaty if you overdo it. The proper layering system is also very easy to adjust as the temperature changes.
Install A Humidifier
You can use humidifier systems that connect to your home’s heating and cooling ductwork. These can help to increase the humidity of the home to around 30% or 40%. The advantage here is that dry air always feels colder. So, even if the temperature is exactly the same, a home with a proper humidifier is going to feel much warmer.
Consider Your Intake
It can also help to eat warm food, drink warm beverages or eat soup. Liquid helps a lot because water itself has a very high specific heat, meaning that it takes a lot of energy to change the temperature. If you’re constantly drinking a cup of warm tea and eating soup for your meals, your body will naturally feel much warmer, even though you haven’t turned up the heat in the home.
Have Your Chimney Inspected
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you may not have used it in years. It could be a good idea to have it inspected to be sure that it’s safe. There are also special chimney cleaner logs that you can burn to get debris out of the way. A fireplace is not the most efficient way to heat a home, but it can be an excellent supplementary source. If it warms up the room where your thermostat is located, this also means that your overall heating system is going to click on less often, saving you in energy costs.
Add Weatherstripping
Finally, your home is going to be a lot cooler if there are drafts or areas where heat can escape. Weatherstripping around doors and windows can go a long way toward retaining the heat. Insulation in the walls and attic can also help dramatically. Essentially, you’re doing everything you can to make it so that your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard by allowing the heat that it does generate to go further.
Insurance Considerations
There are some risks with using a fireplace or making updates to your home. You want to consider the type of insurance coverage that you have and make sure that your insurance policy in Rockwall is adequate. Some of these updates, like insulating and weatherstripping your home, can also change the value. Be sure that your insurance policy has been updated to reflect this.
