Indio, CA is a great place to live. But during the night, especially during the winter, it can get quite chilly. Having a reliable heater is crucial to staying warm and comfortable. To ensure you don’t deal with high energy bills, we put together a helpful guide on staying warm without overworking your furnace or heat pump.
Add Extra Blankets to Beds
By adding extra blankets to the bed, you’ll find it easier to stay warm without having to turn up the thermostat. This means the heater won’t have to run as long to heat the house. For the ultimate way to stay warm, layer the bed with a heated blanket.
Use Flannel or Thermal Sheets
Cotton and bamboo sheets are wonderful for summertime because of their breathability. But during the winter, you’ll want to swap out the sheets for ones made of thermal or flannel. These materials offer better warmth thanks to their thicker weave and heat-retaining fibers.
Wear Warm Socks or Slippers
The warmer your feet, the warmer the rest of your body feels. With this in mind, putting on some extra socks or slippers may help you stay more comfortable without adjusting the thermostat. This tip is especially helpful if you have a home with tile floors. Instead of walking on the cold surface, you’ll have something soft to keep your feet warm.
Layer Up With Sweaters Indoors
Putting on a sweater while you’re indoors can also help you stay warmer. Sweaters made of wool or fleece tend to provide the best insulation. These materials do a great job of trapping body heat. You can take the sweater on and off as you go throughout your day to stay comfortable without raising the thermostat.
Use Draft Stoppers on Doors
Draft stoppers come in many sizes and designs. If you have a winter-themed or holiday-themed home, you can find them to match your decor preferences. These stoppers prevent cold air from slipping into the house under exterior doors. They can fill the smallest of gaps, making it easier to keep your indoor spaces warm.
Switch to Insulating Blackout Drapes
Insulated blackout drapes are a great investment for making your home more energy-efficient. They trap heat inside the house where it belongs, making the living spaces feel warmer. They come in an array of colors, patterns, and fabrics. Considering your room layout and decor style is the best way to pick blackout drapes that match your home.
Close Curtains to Keep Heat In
Do your best to close the curtains as soon as the sun sets each evening. This small habit can make a big difference in how warm the interior living spaces feel. You don’t want the heat to escape through the windows. Keeping the curtains closed prevents this from happening. If you want extra convenience, consider setting them up with a smart timer. This way, they’ll automatically close themselves when the sun goes down.
Run a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Programmable and smart thermostats add even more simplicity to keeping a house warm without overworking the heater. They do this by allowing you to set temperature schedules that align with your daily habits and lifestyle. Smart versions come with other features like remote access and energy-use tracking that provide additional benefits for saving energy and reducing wear on the heater.
The most important energy-saving features to look for in smart thermostats include:
- Smart temperature scheduling
- Learning-based adjustments
- Remote mobile control
- Geofencing home/away mode
- Energy use tracking reports
- Adaptive recovery heating
Reverse Ceiling Fans to Push Warm Air Down
Ceiling fans do a great job at helping living spaces feel warmer when you use them strategically. They must be set to have the blades rotate in a clockwise motion to push the warm air back toward the living space. Just remember to reverse the direction once summer comes around so that the fan can create a cooling breeze.
Use Area Rugs on Tile Floors
Tile flooring is very popular in Indio. But despite its ability to stay cool and resist moisture, it can cause comfort issues during the winter. Placing area rugs over the tile during the colder months is an effective way to make the rooms feel warmer. They add insulation to the floor, so you won’t have to turn up the heat.
The best types of area rugs for making tile flooring feel warmer include:
- Thick wool rugs
- Shag or plush rugs
- High-pile synthetic rugs
- Faux fur rugs
- Thermal-insulated rugs
Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Exterior Doors
Gaps in the frame or trim around doors and windows let conditioned air escape the home. They also let cold outdoor air seep inside where it doesn’t belong. Taking time every few months to seal the gaps with weatherstripping or caulk is a wise move for helping the heater run more efficiently.
Keep Interior Doors Closed to Retain Heat
As you go through your day, try to keep all of the interior doors closed. This way, each room can better maintain the heat and warmth inside of it.
Bake or Cook in the Evenings for Warmth
Try to do the majority of your cooking and baking during the evening or nighttime when it’s cooler outside. The heat generated from the oven can help the kitchen and other living areas feel warmer without having to touch the thermostat.
Move Furniture Away From Vents
Do a weekly walkthrough of your house to check each vent for clogs. Each one should remain open at all times to avoid uneven heating. You may need to move certain pieces of furniture to avoid blockages.
Add Insulation to Attics or Walls
When was the last time you had the insulation in your house checked or updated? If it’s been more than a few years, it’s time for an inspection. Adding insulation to attics and walls makes it easier for a home to retain warmth. Your heater won’t have to run as often, which means less wear and cheaper heating costs.
Humidify the Air to Make Rooms Feel Warmer
The air in the winter becomes much drier, which can make the interior spaces feel cooler than they really are. By adding moisture back into the air, it will feel warmer. You can do this with a portable or whole-home humidifier. We suggest the latter because you won’t have to mess with refilling water tanks or moving a unit from room to room.
Schedule Annual Heater Maintenance
Lastly, and most importantly, you should have a trained technician inspect your heater every year. We’ll find and fix worn-out parts so that you don’t have to stress about unexpected breakdowns. We can fine-tune the unit so that it performs optimally all winter without overworking itself.
Hermetic Heating & Air makes it simple to access professional heater maintenance. We arrive promptly for every appointment and work efficiently because we care about our customers’ time. We offer heater installations, repairs, and tune-ups. Call Hermetic Heating & Air today to book expert heater service in Indio.
