Five Essentials Every Homeowner Needs To Fight Harsh Winters Home Decoration Home Improvement by Anita Ginsburg - February 6, 2015 Live In A Location With Harsh Winters? Five Essentials That Every Homeowner Needs For Harsh Winters Keeping warm in the winter can seem like a full time job, especially with an older home. Here are some essential tools for homeowners to beat the chill in the cold winter months. Blinds and Curtains You can use your blinds and curtains to your advantage to better heat your house both during the day and those cold nights. Keep blinds and curtains open on windows that get direct sunlight during the day to assist your heating system. However, come nightfall, make sure to close all the blinds and curtains to act as extra insulation against losing heat from your windows. Image – http://classicconstructionservice.com Essential Rooms If you have rooms in your house that you do not use frequently, close the vents and cut off the heat to these portions of the house. Keeping the heat off in certain rooms will redirect that heat to the main portions of the house that get the most use. This will also save you money on your utility bills. Space Heaters Space heaters can be a quick fix for those smaller rooms, such as bedrooms and offices. However, the major problem with space heaters is the fire risk. The vast majority of house fires in the winter are the result of space heaters. Be sure to read up on all the precautions before turning on your space heater, and never leave it unattended. Rugs and Carpet Hardwood flooring is the way to go in home decor these days, yet you lose a great deal of heat through your floors. Rugs and carpet act as an extra insulation, so winter is the perfect time to throw down an extra rug or two on the hardwood flooring, not to mention that rugs feel better on your feet than cold floors. Windows and Doors Finally, all the tips and tricks in the books won’t help keep you win the war against the winter chill if drafty windows and doors are constantly letting heat out and cold air in. You can hold a candle flame near your doors and windows to test for drafts sneaking their way into the house. While replacing windows and doors can be an expensive project, in the long run, it will significantly increase your comfort level, save you on your energy bill, and be an excellent investment into the value of your house. It may take some work and ingenuity, but by using these tools, you too can cut down on heat loss and increase insulation in your homes in order to create that cozy environment. Informational credit to Sunrise Windows & Doors Depot Ltd.