One of the coldest winters on record is here, which means heating bills could skyrocket.
The Family Handyman has tips to keep safe and warm without breaking the bank.
Here are a few ways to keep warm and still conserve energy this winter:
• Stop fireplace heat loss: Wood-burning fireplaces can warm up a room, but more often, they rob a house of heat by letting it escape up the chimney. If you have a modern fireplace with a cold air intake from outside, make sure you equip it with an airtight door. If you have an older fireplace that uses room air for combustion, equip it with a door that has operable vents. Only keep those vents open when there is a fire in the fireplace. Otherwise, heat will constantly be sucked out of the house.
• Install quilted curtains to block draft: If you're turning up the heat in the house to compensate for drafty windows, consider quilted curtains, which can increase comfort and let you keep the temp down. The curtains are available in various colors, patterns and sizes.
The Family Handyman has tips to keep safe and warm without breaking the bank.
Here are a few ways to keep warm and still conserve energy this winter:
• Stop fireplace heat loss: Wood-burning fireplaces can warm up a room, but more often, they rob a house of heat by letting it escape up the chimney. If you have a modern fireplace with a cold air intake from outside, make sure you equip it with an airtight door. If you have an older fireplace that uses room air for combustion, equip it with a door that has operable vents. Only keep those vents open when there is a fire in the fireplace. Otherwise, heat will constantly be sucked out of the house.
• Install quilted curtains to block draft: If you're turning up the heat in the house to compensate for drafty windows, consider quilted curtains, which can increase comfort and let you keep the temp down. The curtains are available in various colors, patterns and sizes.
