How to: Keep your house warm this winter

Brrrr! Another freezing Melbourne winter is upon us. Between the colder than usual temperatures and the rising cost of energy prices, it’s been tricky for Melburnians to keep their houses warm! Melcorp Real Estate has put together some expert top tips to help keep your home cosy this season.

• Install heavy curtains on your windows. According to Environment Victoria, up to 40% of the heat escaping from your home in winter is due to uncovered windows. When the sun comes out during the day open up your curtains to let in as much natural, warm light as possible. But during the evenings, make sure you close them up to help trap the heat back inside your home.  

• Move your furniture around. If your bed and/or couches are positioned near a window, try moving them inwards towards the centre of the room or closer to internal walls. Ensure no furniture is blocking any heaters either, not only is this a safety issue but this can stop your home from warming up.  

• Use rugs. If you have tiled or wooden floors, putting down rugs is a quick and stylish way to heat up your home. Forget having to wear those daggy slippers – plush, soft rugs will make it feel like you are walking on a warm and fuzzy cloud at all times.

• Seal the gaps. If you have a fireplace, check that the damper is working properly. You can purchase a fireplace plug to seal the flue so that no warm air escapes. Alternatively, seal up any gaps with weather stripping and/or gap filler, depending on the area, or buy a door snake to place at the bottom of each main entrance door.

• Appliances. Whether you are boiling an egg, baking a cake, or using the dryer, these everyday chores can be a simple and efficient way of heating up your main living areas.

• Reverse the motion of your ceiling fans. Because heat rises switching your ceiling fans to clockwise (usually there is a small switch on the fan) can force warm air that comes from the heaters back down to eye-level.

• Close the doors. If a room is not in use, close the door. And don’t forget to turn off any heating in empty rooms to save both money and energy.

• Heaters. The easiest way to stay warm this winter is firing up those heaters. While heaters are the number one choice to prevent you from catching that dreaded winter cold, make sure that you check the heater is safe to use. Whether it’s a gas, electric, or a portable outdoor heater, all should be inspected before using every winter.