There is something incredibly charming about living in an old home – it’s historic, the architecture is unique and there is something about an old house that makes it homey. As quaint as an old home might be, it is expensive to keep it warm. Luckily there are some tricks to help keep your old home warm on a budget.
Plastic the windows – Most old houses have big single pane windows. If you have not updated the windows yet, install double-pane windows as soon as possible. If you don’t have the time or finances to do so before winter, put plastic on the interior of your windows. Nowadays, there is plastic that is much clearer and won’t block the view outside, but it will keep your home much warmer by eliminating cold spots.
Door stops – Installing a door stop under each door that leads outside is the most effective way to keep cold drafts out. When it comes to the doors in your home, you can eliminate cold drafts by using a portable doorstopper. Don’t forget about doors with cracks, if you can see the light from outside streaming into the room from the door, the cold can easily get in. A quick trip to the hardware store to purchase foam adhesive will fix this problem for you at a low cost.
Area rugs – If you have hardwood or tile flooring all throughout your home, lay down large area rugs during the cold months. This won’t increase the temperature in your home but it will feel like it when you walk on the rug rather than on the cold tile floor in your bare feet.
Adjust thermostat – Turning the thermostat down while you’re away and at night will save you a great deal in heating costs. Just be sure not to turn it below 55 degrees to avoid any chance from your pipes freezing. You also don’t want your furnace to work too hard to heat back up to the desired temperature.
Eliminate uneven heating – If your home has multiple floors, it should have a thermostat on each floor. If the thermostat is only on the first floor then it is only reading the temperature on the first floor, if you go upstairs its very cold. Installing a thermostat on each floor will cost you money up front, but it’ll keep your entire home at the desired temperature.
