Saving money this winter.

The cold is coming. For some, It's already beginning to get into the 40s and 30s above the 45° longitude line. So we should talk about ways to keep warm this winter. Let's start out with ways to be more economic with heating in your home. There are many different ways to achieve this goal without spending big money. Servicing your oil burner, Propane fireplace, or having your fireplace cleaned is a great start. Not only is it preventive maintenance it is also fire safety and can help your heat source running correctly and economically. Next, we should cover the fact that a 1/8th of an inch crack can lose as much heat as having a window open an inch. If your house was built before the mid-2000's energy efficiency did not play a major role in its construction. Drafts in floors, walls, windows, and doors happen. Using caulking to fix deficiencies less than 1 inch in width. spray foam for larger gaps and even replacing flooring or walls will pay for itself in under 2 years. Replacing, repairing, or sealing the windows will help a good bit as well. Placing weather stripping under doors and in window sills also helps reduce drafts. Consider insulation in crawl spaces, attics, and lofts. There are many different styles to pick from, each with their own pros and cons. Alternative methods as well can work wonders. windows that face the sun should have the curtains and blinds open when in direct sunlight to let the sun heat your house, then closed as night falls. Blackout curtains, sashing, or eco blinds are thick almost tapestry curtain that takes up the whole window and blocks out sun or keeps heat/cold in. these are great for drafty windows or doors. Consider adding on a breezeway/man trap, an enclosed entrance to your house before you enter the main structure. Having one of these can prevent direct heat loss from the outside as one door will always be shut.

From there you can consider other things such as a solar heater. I've seen these easily made from corrugated clear plastic, caulking, and some strip foam. I'll provide a picture below. The basic concept is that the cool room air is heated from a south-facing solar heater and pushed back into the room. This would be a perfect passive heater for an attict, shed, or basement with at least one south-facing window.

Credit: https://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com

There are many other ways to heat your house this winter as well. Wood stoves and fireplaces are original and time-tested methods. With a good fire, you can heat a room fast and fairly cheap compared to other methods. But a lot of people are not burning the right wood. Here's a list of wood.credit:https://www.marksfirewood.com/bestburningfirewood/

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Electric, Gas, and Oil are the most common types of heating. while upgrading to newer heaters there isn't a lot to make these methods more effective or efficient. It's more about the understanding of how they work to be more economical with them. your heat doesn't need to be set at 68 while you are gone all day or while you're in bed. In reality, 63 is a decent temp for indoor heating. Times the heat should be maintained at a higher temp would be 6-9 am while people are getting ready for work or school and 5-9 pm while people are in common rooms and getting ready for bed. Even with that being said, putting on a long-sleeved shirt and socks or slippers cost less than turning up the heat a few degrees.

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Many alternative ways of heating a home also exist, while not all of them are recommended.

(Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the article.)

Sometimes in dire situations, you need to think outside the box. Next are some ideas to help think outside that box. portable propane heaters such as the Big Buddy heater are a great way to heat up small rooms, cabins, or campers. Big Buddy heaters commonly take either a 1 LB. tank or have adapters for bigger tanks. They do sell a CA/MA compliant version with low oxygen shut off and tip-over shut off. Sterno while not the most cost-effective does produce a good amount of BTU's and burns relatively long per can. An added bonus with Sterno is that you can cook or reheat food off it and it's easily started and stopped if the need arises. Chemical packs such as Hot Hands or such also do give off heat well, while they won't heat a whole room they will keep you warm so you don't need to crank the heat.

There are a million other tips and tricks to keep warm this winter and there is not enough time to talk about them all. If you have something big we missed, comment and let us know.

As always, Heres some links for things mentioned in this article or tools to help you:

Mr. Heater Big Buddy, MA/Canada version: https://amzn.to/3ezj4kz

Mr. Heater large version: https://amzn.to/3kUYQEe

Best Choice firewood holder w/ tools: https://amzn.to/2I5fna6

Tuffiom 6in diamiter wood spliter: https://amzn.to/34W66dx

Gas One liquid fuel (stereo) 12 pack: https://amzn.to/3l2lvyt

Hot Hands hand and body warmers 40 pack: https://amzn.to/38bS2yD

**DISCLAIMER: FSG does not recommend you use alternative fuel sources, or ways of heating your home unless it is an absolute emergency. C.O detectors should be properly maintained and installed throughout your house, Especially in the room or area, you plan to use heat. The legality and safety of your heating methods are up to you the users. This article serves solely as an informative article and not as directions or legal advice.