Many people try to wait as long as possible before turning on the furnace for winter. While keeping warm without a heater is certainly possible, especially before the weather turns fully, it can take a little planning to do so comfortably. Most people approach the issue without really thinking about keeping warm without a heater. They assume putting up with a little discomfort is the price to pay for lower energy bills.
However, for fall days that start to chill, there many creative tactics out there for keeping warm without a heater in the short term. Before you decide to do this though, you may want to consider that there might be other ways to save on heating and air conditioning costs. Before you resort to keeping warm without a heater just to save a few dollars, look into HVAC maintenance aimed at improving system efficiency. You might just be able to save enough to avoid the question of how long to wait before turning on the heat altogether.
To learn more about heating & air conditioning maintenance in the St. Louis area and for help improving your furnace efficiency, contact the experts at Galmiche & Sons. We can help you determine the right choice for your home, as well as perform any maintenance and repairs you might need. If you decide to stick it out before turning on your heater, here are some ways to keep it as comfortable as possible.
Top Tips for Staying Toasty
Just like many questions involving air conditioning and heating, one of the best tips for keeping warm without a heater is to pay close attention to your home’s insulation. Properly installed insulation and sealed windows and doors go a long way towards keeping drafts out — and hot air in. Consider the way air flows through your home and plan ways to keep warm air in and avoid contact with the outside. Blinds can also make a difference as closing them at night can keep warm air in and opening them in the day lets in warming sunlight.
Beyond insulation, the best tip for keeping warm without a heater is to focus on humidity. Placing a humidifier in rooms where you spend a lot of time gives you some ability to change the temperature without resorting to the furnace. More humid air feels warmer and adding some humidity to the crisp and dry fall air will keep you feeling cozy.
Other Ways of Keeping Warm without a Heater
In addition to these more general rules, there are a few specific tricks you can use for keeping warm without a heater. Some of the most effective include:
- Reversing your ceiling fans to force down warm air collected up there
- Don’t run the bathroom fan after a shower, again allow the humidity to help
- Cook more and leave the oven open after you bake to let any residual heat warm the house
- Dress in layers and pile on the blankets if needed
Learn More About Staying Warm Without a Heater
While it might not seem like much, each of these tips can go a long way towards keeping you warm without a heater in late fall. For more tips like these on managing the temperature in your home, saving money and energy, and getting the most out of your heating & air conditioning system, get in touch with Galmiche & Sons, your St. Louis HVAC specialists.
