HOUSTON — Why can you prepare for freezing temperatures without spending a bunch of money?
Staying warm when a winter blast doesn’t mean you have to shell out big bucks. There are some simple things you can do around the house to keep you and your family cozy.
First things first. Take a look at your heater. Make sure nothing is blocking the outside furnace vents. And do the same thing on the inside. Make sure you don’t have any big pieces of furniture in front of your vents. You want to make it as easy has possible for that warm air to circulate around your home.
With that in mind, check your ceiling fans. Fans have a summer and a winter mode. In the summer you want it pushing air down so you get a cool breeze. In the winter you want it pulling cold air up so the warmer air is pushed down. That means in the winter it should be going clockwise. You can often change this with a pull down cord on the fan.
You will also want to make sure you keep cold air from getting inside your home. You can buy a door stopper to prevent drafts but there is no need to spend the money. A rolled up towel or blanket pressed against the bottom of the door does the same thing.