Fall is that special time in between summer and winter when the weather seems perfect, the leaves are falling and the air is crisp. But while your house is a comfortable temperature during the day without the heater on, at night the temperatures may get a little too cold for comfort. So what should you do? If you want to avoid overworking your heating system—or maybe it’s just not cool enough yet to use the heater, but you’re a little chilly—there are some simple things you can do instead of heating up the entire house.
To that end, here’s some advice from heating contractors in Polk County, TN with alternative ways to stay warm this fall:
- Stop drafts: Make time to inspect all your windows for drafts coming through cracks in damaged caulking or weather stripping. Run your hand along the window frame to feel for cold drafts, and either re-caulk problem areas or install new weather stripping material immediately. For extra sealing when windows are closed, use draft stoppers, which are like indoor fabric-covered sandbags for the base of your windows.
- Use the fireplace: Fall is a wonderful time to use your indoor fireplace or wood stove. This gives your heater some rest, and it’s also a good excuse for enjoying some family time. Additionally, not only can an active fireplace get you in the mood for fall, but it’s also a low cost way to warm up your house.
- Bake some goodies: If you’re both cold and hankering for a homemade treat, you can kill two birds with one stone simply by baking some treats in a hot oven. This way, the toasty oven will fill your home with the smell of hot cookies as well as body-warming heat.
- Sip on a hot beverage: Hot chocolate, tea, coffee, apple cider and soup are definite fall necessities, and what makes these tasty liquids so much better is that they warm you up fast on a chilly day. Sip on a cup of your favorite cold weather hot beverage whenever you need to warm up quick.
- Get space heaters: Although most home heating systems are designed to provide warm air to the entire house, you may not always need to heat up every room, such as when you’re the only one home. This is where space heaters come in handy. They are compact and light enough to move room to room and can heat up an enclosed space in a short amount of time. Give your HVAC a rest, and save on energy costs!
- Cover up with throws: This is the time of year to curl up on the couch all wrapped up in a light fluffy blanket. Leave a couple throws out on the couch within reach, or place them in a decorative basket in the living room. Also, cover up with an extra blanket when you sleep to stay heater-free all night long.
If you find that the fall season is changing quicker than you thought it would, and just now discovered your HVAC needs repairs or a tune-up, don’t hesitate to contact the professional heating contractors in Polk County, TN at Higdon Heating & Air LLC.