Simple way to help with the heat

**TerriLL** · 02-19-2008, 11:21 PM

We started to do this this winter and I think it really has helped.
We don't use our front door,lucky for us we have a attached garage and use that door. The small amount of heat that goes out in the garage compared to the heat that leaves the house when the front door is open,what a difference!!
We take our dog out through the garage too,instead of the sliding patio door. I could kick ourselves for the past 4 years of living in this house and not doing that to begin with.

**Bethany** · 02-20-2008, 12:05 AM

That is a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**banana** · 02-20-2008, 10:21 AM

That is a great idea!

**M55FF** · 02-23-2008, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by TerriLL

We started to do this this winter and I think it really has helped.
We don't use our front door,lucky for us we have a attached garage and use that door. The small amount of heat that goes out in the garage compared to the heat that leaves the house when the front door is open,what a difference!!
We take our dog out through the garage too,instead of the sliding patio door. I could kick ourselves for the past 4 years of living in this house and not doing that to begin with.

It also helps to buy some curtains that are insulated !!!
I find lots and lots of them at JC PENNY OUTLET !!!............. if you have draft problems you can also buy sheets of insulation and cut to size to place over the inside of the wondow during especcially cold spells.
I am in Texas and do this with the insulation when its especcially HOT...
it stores neatly when not in use behind the headboard of the bed or under a couch.
If you wanted, you could use old sheets and cover them too.... but I find they fit nicely behind the mini blinds and the white insulation also allows light in ( when you open the mini blinds) while blocking out the cold or heat.

**Frugal Dad** · 02-24-2008, 10:28 PM

Seems counterintuitive to use a ceiling fan during the winter, but by running fans on low and changing the blade direction to blow air up you will create a slight updraft as you are constantly recycling warm air back into the room. The opposite is true in the summer when airflow should be sent down to produce a wind-chill affect (make the room occupants feel cooler). Most fan models have a switch above the light fixture to change blade directions. A good rule of thumb is to run your ceiling fan counter-clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter.