by Pamela Kay

Created on: November 07, 2008   Last Updated: December 07, 2010

When temperatures plummet to the teens and cold winds rattle the doors and windows it becomes more difficult to heat your house. Here are some of the best ways to keep your house warm on a winter's day without spending a fortune.

*Prepare Your House

Long before that first cold day, you should install adequate insulation in the attic and basement. Warm air rises and if you have no insulation under the floors, they become very cold. You can also reverse the airflow of overhead fans to force the warm air down into the room.

Use weather stripping around doors and windows to stop leaks and replace caulking around windowpanes when it becomes dry and shrunken. A lot of cold air can seep in around each pane and the caulking is easily replaced. Fold a towel and lay at the base of each closet door and those that lead outside or into an unused room.

Place your hand close to electrical outlets and light switches to check for cold air. If you feel any, remove the plate and stuff the hole with insulation, being careful not to touch the hot wires. Replace the covering and check again for cold air.

Open the shades, blinds and curtains when the sun is shining in a room, to warm it up, and then close them when the sun has moved. Keep closet and cupboard door shut and close the vents and doors of unused rooms; it takes only a few minutes to warm them up if needed.

*Dress For The Cold

Thermal underwear, worn under layers of clothes, and thick socks hold your body's own natural heat. Lose the synthetic fabrics and wear cotton and wool, which will keep you warm as it allows your skin to breath.

*Be Active To Generate Heat

This is no time to sit huddled in a shivering ball; this is a time for activities that generate more heat. Cleaning the house or aerobic exercises will do the job nicely. Doing the laundry will add some heat to the house and warm your hands as you fold it fresh from the dryer.

*Food For Fuel

Steaming cups of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, served with a hot bowl of soup can help chase away the chill. A cold wintry day is perfect for baking cookies or some fresh bread to serve with hot bowls of spicy soup or chili. Your crock-pot as well as a busy oven will add some heat to the kitchen and the smell creates a sense of well being.

*Staying Warm At Night

When bedtime comes, fill a sock with rice, heat it in the microwave and tuck it under the covers at your feet. The sock will stay warm for hours and keep your feet nice and toasty. Add warm blankets and quilts to your bed too. You might want to consider a nightcap too. No, not a drink, though this could help warm you up, but a cap to keep your body's heat in. The head is where we lose most of our heat and a light cap will hold some of it in.

*Use A Space Heater

If all of the other ideas fail to keep your house warm on a winter's day, consider a space heater. Kerosene or electric space heaters can generate a lot of heat and if used properly, have no offensive odors or risk of fire.

There are many little things you can do to conserve heat such as placing tape over keyholes and caulking well around pipes that enter the house. Only you know your home's weaknesses and with a little investigating, you can find the best ways to keep your house warm on a winter's day.

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