If you live in an area where temperatures dip quickly and often during the winter months, you know how hard it can be to keep your home warm; especially when the outside temperatures drop below zero!
We actually live in an area that gets to -20 during the winter months. Luckily, we have yet to experience that this year, however, we have gotten several degrees below zero. Sometimes, your wood-burning stove and electric or propane heaters have a tough time keeping up and your bill to use those goes sky high! So here are some tips to stay warm when it gets unbearable cold.
Heavy Curtains
Heavy curtains will block a lot of the cool air and keep it from hitting you. When it gets cold, even with high-quality windows, you can feel the cold coming off the glass just walking by. Using heavy curtains helps keep this chill from taking over your whole house. Usually, this is something I would do during the night to help it feel warmer. But if you have a really cold day, keep those curtains closed until the sunlight hits the windows.
While some air particles will be able to move through the gaps in a curtain, many of them will encounter resistance – just like wind blowing against a ship’s sail. Even if the air immediately beside the window cools considerably if it doesn’t have the opportunity to mix with the warm air in the rest of the room, you won’t notice – and neither will your energy bills.
Draft Protectors
Sealing your doorway from cold drafts can keep your home more temperate. Draft stoppers will block out those drafts under doors or from windows that can give off a chill. Here is an easy way to make draft protectors.
Layer up
There is a proper way to layer your clothing when it’s cold outside. Whether indoors or out, layers can help you adjust to being just right. We always wear layers, just in case. Start with your typical underwear and layer from there. You can add or remove layers to remain in your optimal comfort zone.
Layering Clothes Effectively To Stay Warm Outside In Winter
Super Warm Blankets
Alpaca fiber or wool will retain lots of warmth. Alpaca blankets are just as warm as wool but typically lighter. For those who prefer wool, Gear Patrol put together a list of the best wool blankets for this year, 2022. If you are looking for a detailed difference between alpaca and wool, click here. There is no wrong choice, but make sure you know what you’re looking for in a heavy blanket. Consider too if you lose power, or heat in the winter. How are you going to remain warm overnight without heat if you don’t have an off-grid solution like a wood-burning stove?
Wood Burning Stove
A wood-burning stove is going to be the best way to heat your home off-grid. If the power goes out, you will still have heat, even if you may not have lights. Consider at least some kind of solution to electric or propane heat in case something big happens during the winter.
Be Energy Efficient This Winter. This is the Best Wood To Heat Your Home
All of these should help you stay warm in the winter. If something bad happens, using these techniques will afford you extra warmth and comfort even if it cools off substantially.