Having proper temperature management in the home can be much more than a simple convenience – it can also save you a great deal of money. Here are a few tips that will help you keep your basement warm this winter, no matter your budget.
Double Check All of Your Seals
If there is a walk out door, then it should be very tightly sealed with both a door sweep as well as weatherstripping. If there are additional rooms in the basement that are unheated, make sure to seal the doors to that room as well.
Portable Heating Systems
Hey, they work! Space heaters are generally very low-cost, inexpensive to use and very effective. Almost all of the space heaters on the market today also come with built-in safety features as well, so this is both a kid-friendly and pet-friendly option. Plus, you only turn it on when you need it.
Another idea here is to get an electric fireplace. These units, while larger than a space heater, are not limited to one spot in the room and just plug into the wall. They throw a good amount of heat, which is great if you plan on spending a lot of time in the basement.
Don't Forget About Insulation
In the coldest cities around the world, proper insulation is necessary. In those places, they use 2-inch thick polystyrene. The boards are rigid and they produce an insulation value of around R – 10, good enough for most homes in all but the worst winter living conditions.
If you envision the conditions this winter will be a bit more volatile, you can also add an insulation blanket of up to 3", depending on the thickness of your framing. This will increase your insulation value to R – 13. This has the additional advantage of helping to insulate the rooms above, as cold air tends to seep into a house through the basement area.
Other Tips & Tricks
While not all of us can afford to re-do the insulation or ductwork in our basement to make it more efficient, there are things we can do. Like the tips mentioned above or some of these ideas:
- lining your window sills with draft snakes (basically a long tube of fabric that blocks drafts)
- layer inexpensive curtains to block drafts
- coat your glass with an insulation film that will keep the heat inside
- use carpets and/or area rugs
- snuggle with your loved ones on the couch with a blanket and a heat pack!
Most of the above tips can be accomplished for minimal costs. A quick trip to a home improvement store will get you all of the materials you need in order to make these tips happened, so you can fully insulate your basement and keep it warm for less money than ever before.
Photo credits: shutterstock.com
Posted by Terry Paranych on
Leave A Comment