The Small But Effective Home Task That Keeps Your Home Warm (Without Raising The Thermostat)

As the cold weather approaches and you've completed your annual maintenance tasks, all that's left is to start looking for practically free tricks for staying warm and cozy at home during the winter months. One small but effective home task that keeps your home warm without raising the thermostat is to check the air vents and registers. One of the most costly home heating mistakes to avoid is obstructing heating registers with drapery or furniture. When the registers are covered, it blocks airflow through your home and subsequently increases heating bills, makes the house feel colder, and puts additional strain on your heating system.

When some of the vents and registers are obstructed, you may notice uneven temperatures in different areas of the house, and your equipment may suffer more rapid wear and tear from having to work longer. Likewise, closed vents can cause pressure imbalances in the system, causing issues like duct leaks, excessive energy use, and potential HVAC damage. You can solve this problem by ensuring that all registers and vents are open and clear of all furniture, curtains, area rugs, and other items. This simple change will make the house warmer, and the system won't have to work as hard to keep your home comfortable.

Unfortunately, air vents, registers, and radiators are often situated at floor level. As a result, they are frequently blocked by furniture or curtains. Start by going from room to room and checking all vents, registers, and baseboard heaters. Make sure the vents are open and nothing is blocking them. There should be a few feet of clearance around the registers and air vents to ensure adequate airflow. Insulated curtains, heavy materials, and layering fabrics are among the lesser known curtain hacks to keep your home warmer without turning up the heat. However, if those curtains reach the floor in front of your air vents or registers, they may be counterproductive. Swap floor length curtains for shorter styles that don't touch the floor (or, raise your curtain rod) to give enough clearance for optimal airflow.

You may have to rearrange furniture to make sure you have enough clearance around your air vents. Finding the right setup can be challenging, but a warmer house is worth the effort. If you cannot relocate certain furniture or you have limited space to work with, you may want to consider investing in vent deflectors, also known as vent diverters or vent extenders. These devises are inexpensive, often costing less than $20, and work to redirect the airflow when you can't move your furniture, curtains, plants, and other room features.