Things You Can Do to Help Keep Your Home Warmer in the Winter

Keeping your home warm and retaining the heat that your heating system is working so hard to provide can be a bit more challenging than otherwise anticipated. Fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks you can implement to help retain the heat in your home. Our crew at Handyman Connection of Eden Prairie has put together some of those recommendations for you to follow here. Check them out and let us know what works best for you and your home.

Settings on Your Ceiling Fan

Adjust the settings on your fans to rotate counterclockwise instead of clockwise. As we know, heat naturally rises; therefore we want to do what we can to push the heat back down into our rooms. By changing the rotation of your fans, that’s what will happen. The counterclockwise rotation will help to push the heat back down.

Close Off Rooms You Don’t Use

For rooms that are often unused, it’s recommended that you close them off. The heating system is working to heat all areas of the home, so by closing off areas you don’t frequently use, that will allow the heat to focus in the areas that are important and that you are frequently in. It’ll also help prevent cooler airflow from entering your home.

Shower Steam

While this suggestion may be a bit surprising, it’s often recommended to leave bathroom doors open when you shower. This will allow for the hot, warm steam to seep through the other areas in your home near the bathroom helping to reinforce the heat in your home.

Furniture Rearrangement

Create an even flow throughout your home, and make sure that your furniture is not cluttered up in certain areas. Larger pieces of furniture clumped together can block airflow. Additionally, make sure that no vents on the floor or ceilings are covered up by any rugs or other decorations, as that will certainly make your heating system’s efficiency decrease significantly.

Reduce Your Use Bathroom and Other Exhaust Fans

Reduce or limit the amount of times or duration of time that you use bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans. These suck out warm air very quickly, so make sure to be cognizant of how often they are used. You want to retain as much of the warm air as possible in your home, which is why it’s recommended to limit the usage.

Install Draft Stoppers

Our crew here in Eden Prairie also recommends placing draft stoppers in as many areas as possible. Those areas include exterior doors, loose windows, and even fireplaces. If you aren’t planning to use your fireplace for what it’s designed to do, plug it up with a draft stopper. These are designed to retain warm air, and fight off cool air from entering your home. It’s a great way to help keep your home warm.

Let the Natural Light In

Natural light is a natural heating solution as well. Open the shades, shutters, and blinds during the day to let natural light in. You’ll notice a significant improvement in the efficiency of your heating system and the warmth in your home.

There many other ways to keep your home warm this winter, but those are some of our favorite and most effective solutions. What are yours? Don’t forget that at Handyman Connection of Eden Prairie, we specialize in home maintenance projects of all kinds. If you need a job done around the house, or have questions about how to get one started, be sure to give us a call. Our expert craftsmen are always standing by to help you tackle it quickly, professionally, and within your budget. Happy Holidays, and stay warm!