When the winter chill sneaks into your home and life, you’ll want to do whatever you can to warm yourself back up. Do you know how to do that without putting yourself, your loved ones, or your home at risk? Here’s what you need to know!
Tips to Keep Warm During Winter, Safely
Understand the dangers of a generator
Generators are great for back up electricity but can also be very dangerous. Not only are they flammable and can easily set your home on fire, but they also let off carbon monoxide. This is a tasteless, odorous, and invisible gas that can kill you and everyone in your home before you even know what happened. Make sure that you never use it indoors, only outdoors.
Block off common thermal exit points
A lot of people have heat seeping through external doors and windows and even into unused rooms in their homes. That’s precious heat gone forever! So, close unused rooms off, stuff towels under the doors, and consider draft guards for your external doors and windows. This will help you lock in as much heat as possible (and out, for during the summer)!
Keep yourself dressed in layers
Dressing in layers isn’t just an old wives’ tale; it actually is true! Whether you want to go for thermal base layers or just classic clothing in layers, this is an efficient way to keep yourself warm. Don’t forget your feet, hands, and head — these are all common areas where you can lose the heat!
If you can’t stand the thought of wool socks or any socks, line your floors with rugs or carpets. This creates a layer of insulation between you and the cold floor!
Stay hydrated and nourished
Our body is capable of keeping us warm if we feed it well. Make sure to eat and hydrate properly so that your body has the literal energy to keep itself warm even if it continues to get colder in your space. Consider warm beverages as an option too.
Reverse your fans
Traditionally, fans suck up the warm air and push down the cold air. If you reverse them, this will draw up the cold air and force the hot air back down!
Draw in the sunshine
Sunshine can warm your home an impressive amount during the day. Draw up blinds and push curtains aside to really let it in! Then, close them as soon as the sun sets so that you can retain that solar heat in your home for as long as possible.
Don’t forget: safety first
If you have a space heater or a fireplace, remember to focus on safety first. Inspect your chimney and fireplace before the ‘season’ starts, because we all know that is hit and miss here in Texas. If you have forgotten, do it as soon as you remember. Make sure that you leave 3’ of space between your fireplace/portable heater and anything flammable. Lastly, always remember to turn off portable heaters and extinguish fires before you leave the room.
Whether it’s a power outage or just a hard month when it comes to your utility bill, these ways will help you to stay warm and safe when the winter chill begins to creep its way into your home!
Just some great tips to help you keep warm in the colder months, whether you have electricity or not – there are some things you can do, especially if you have gas water heater. Contact Paula Smith Insurance at (281) 488-8880 if you have any questions about what would be covered in case you aren’t as safe as you thought.