| By :
Jamie Simpson
Cold weather can cause all kinds of problems, like getting sick easier, feeling groggy, not to mention freezing the pipes in your house. But the cold also damages your pocketbook by bringing up the cost of keeping your home warm and livable. Luckily there are plenty of ways to both do this and save money. The fireplace Usually a main source of heating in most homes, if you plan on staying in one room, lighting up the fireplace is cheaper than warming the whole house. But make sure to keep the vent closed whenever it's not in use, otherwise it can suck heat out of the room and up the chimney. Electric blankets Heating your entire house can cost a great deal and be quite wasteful, why spend money heating rooms you are hardly ever in? A solution for this is electric blankets, they provide warmth and comfort by heating you directly. You can avoid running the heat all night and even in the daytime by stocking up on blankets for your household. Electric blankets are especially useful in older homes that have cracks and drafts that would cost a great deal to repair. They will also save on natural gas, making them environmentally friendly. Heavy curtains If the heat is being sucked through drafty windows, a temporary solution is to get heavy drapes for them. This could be a good idea whether or not your windows have problems since keeping them covered should cut down on the cold either way. Use sunlight Assuming it's not so cold outside that you can't even breathe, any windows that get direct sunlight can be opened to allow the natural heat from the sun inside. This will raise the temperature naturally and doesn't cost a thing. Insulate Get insulation for everything, your attic, your pipes and anywhere else you can think of. If you get rid of all drafts and air leaks you should be able to keep in almost all the heat in your house for a much longer period of time. pay special attention the your attic which can be a serious heat drainer. Be sparse with your thermostat Try to get by with as little heat as possible. If possible get a programmable thermostat that will turn the temperature down while your away and turn it up when you are at home. Be as sparse with your heat as you can but still make sure you're comfortable.
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