As we approach mid-December, the holiday season and colder winter weather are beginning to slowly creep into our everyday lives. The days pass by in a blink of an eye, with the sky darkening before our internal clock even has a chance to catch up! Early morning means a delicate frost across cars and grass, with young kids (and the young at heart) exhaling to see the wonder of their breath gather in front of them as a tiny cloud before rushing to the warm sanctity of home, already decorated for the holidays. Snow has even reached parts of south Texas for the first time since 1987! There's a lot to consider with winter "heating up" and we have some great home hacks to make sure you're warm and toasty this season: Turn your attention to your windows: Windows are the top culprit for letting cold outside air into your home. The good news? They're also your number one ally to achieving your ideal winter climate. Closing your blinds or curtains is one of the easiest changes you can do to keep your heat inside. You should also make sure to check your windows for air leaks as that is the number one way to lose heat. Turn off any fans or vents and thoroughly check the windows to see if there is any warm air leaving or cool air entering. If you do find a gap causing a leak, check the weather strip if there is anything is lodged there causing it. When all else fails, change the weather strip to ensure your windows are winter ready! If you wanted a proactive window-treatment, you'll find one with an unexpected source: Bubble Wrap. Simply spray some water on the windows, apply the bubble wrap so that the bubbles are facing towards you and you're done! The air inside the bubbles acts as an extra insulator since it is slower to react to temperature change, keeping your room temp high and your heating bills low! Repurpose household items: Simply by changing the way you use common household objects, you can help add some heat to your home. This year, try switching the direction of your ceiling fans to counter-clockwise to push the warmer air down. Whenever you use your oven this season, leave it slightly ajar once you're done cooking to have it warm up your home. Just make sure that you're keeping a close eye on any pets or small children and everyone in the home knows that the open oven is warm and not safe to touch. While you may only use the air humidifier for sick days, it can also help during the colder months to heat your home. Similar to more humid locations, the added humidity makes your space feel warmer. In addition, it can help re-add some moisture you lose when you are blasting your heater's warm, dry air. Avoid the thermostat as much as possible: To save some money, hold back on the impulse to hike up the thermostat as soon as you come home. Instead, first layer up with warm sweaters, gloves, and a heated blanket. Winter weather is all about bundling up so we say have at it and get as cozy as you like! It makes little sense to use the thermostat for your whole home when you're planning to just sit in one room watching TV or reading a book. If that's the case, a space heater is your best friend, effectively heating up one room without wasting heat in an unoccupied part of your apartment. If you do end up turning on your heater, make some quick adjustments to your home to help it heat up. By closing doors to rooms you're not using, you're creating a smaller area for your heater to warm up, saving you some extra dollars. You can also opt to make or purchase some draft stoppers. By choosing your own colors or designs you can even have them become a complementary part of your home decor! For more great apartment home hack tips and the latest Weidner news, make sure to follow our blog. From everyone here at Weidner, we wish you and your loved ones a warm Weidner winter!
