Can't sleep because it's freezing in your room? Are you tired of shaking as you get ready for work or school in the morning? No more teeth chattering - no matter how cold it gets outside, it's almost always possible to heat a room with a few simple tricks! If that weren't enough, many of them are free or very cheap and will allow you to warm up without "burning" any money.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Cheap or Free Solutions
Step 1. Use the windows to warm the room with sunlight
One of the simplest ways to heat your room is to use the sun, mother nature's stove. In general, you should let as much sunlight as possible into your room during the day and prevent that heat from being wasted at night. For best results, you will also need to know which windows the sunlight enters - typically south-facing in the northern hemisphere and north-facing in the southern hemisphere. Here is a simple table you could follow:
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Morning:
Before leaving for work or school, close all the windows in your room. Leave curtains, blinds, or shutters open to let in sunlight.
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Afternoon:
let the light in through the windows until the sun hits the room. As soon as it starts to get cold and dark, close the blinds.
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Night:
keep shutters and windows closed at night to conserve heat.
Step 2. Dress in layers to warm up without wasting energy
In a world where the climatic impact of domestic heating is becoming a major concern, many eco-conscious people choose to "heat the person, not the room". Wearing a coat, jacket or tights indoors is a great way to stay warm without using energy for heating (and without spending a euro on your bill).
- If your room is particularly cold at night, you may want to try dressing in layers at night. While some people find this inconvenient, soft clothing like tights and hoodies usually allow you to warm up without sacrificing too much comfort.
- Synthetic fabrics that do not "breathe" such as polyester, rayon and so on are the ones that generally retain heat the most (which is why they are so uncomfortable in the summer).
Step 3. Put a hot water bottle in the bed
One of the worst feelings in the world is walking through a frozen room in your pajamas just to get into your sub-zero bed. Although your bed will warm up when you are inside, you can avoid this terrible feeling by warming it before you step inside. A hot water bottle is a great way to do this - fill it with boiling water, close the cap tightly, and leave it in the center of the bed under the covers for 15 minutes before going to bed. As it cools, it will release its warmth into the bed, which will be warm when you arrive.
- You can find hot water bottles at the pharmacy for € 15 or less.
- If you use a microwave to heat water, be sure to use a microwave safe container (such as a glass or ceramic bowl).
Step 4. Cover the drafts with blankets
The last thing you need when trying to heat a room is a draft, a point where cold air can enter. Keep all drafts closed with rags or blankets you don't need while waiting for a more permanent solution (replace a faulty window, etc.). When drafts let in very cold air, this simple trick can make a big difference.
- Not sure if there is a draft? There are many ways to discover them. The first is to hold one hand in front of a crack in a door or window and try to feel the movement of the air. You can also use a candle - if its flame moves near a crack, there is a draft.
- Try reading the US Government's Draft Detection Tips (in English) on energy.gov for more ideas.
Step 5. Make the most of your existing heaters or radiators
Do you have a radiator in the room that doesn't seem to help heat it? Use these tips to increase its effectiveness (and save money you would otherwise waste):
- Make sure there is no furniture between the radiator and you. In many old houses, radiators are, for example, hidden behind sofas.
- Place aluminum foil behind a radiator (use foil similar in size to the radiator itself). This arrangement allows to reflect the heat that would normally be transferred to the wall, heating the rest of the room.
- If your heater is portable, use it in the smallest space possible to heat yourself more efficiently. A heater, for example, can heat a small bedroom much better than a large living room.
Step 6. Invite other people to the room
It's easy to forget that humans are basically walking, talking biological ovens, constantly emitting heat into the air around you. Bringing a person or two into the room can make a noticeable difference - the heat from your bodies and fumes will help warm the room.
- It is important to consider two aspects with this method: the smaller the room and the more intense the physical activity performed by the people in it, the warmer the environment will be. In other words, a wild party in a small room will produce a lot more heat than three people sitting on a sofa in a large living room.
- If your friends are busy, even pets can slightly heat a room (if they're not cold-blooded - fish and lizards won't help you in this case).
Step 7. Get a hair dryer and use it to warm the bed
This trick may seem ridiculous to you, but it works. After all, a hairdryer is essentially a small heater with a fan. You can blow hot air directly onto the bed or lift the blankets and blow underneath to create a warm air zone for you to lie down on.
Be careful not to touch the hot metal elements of the hair dryer on your blankets, especially if they are made of a fabric that has a tendency to melt (such as polyester, etc.)
Method 2 of 2: More Expensive Solutions
Step 1. Get a heater for your room
Of course, if you don't already have a stove, you might want to consider buying one. You can find electric stoves, of many different sizes and powers, in many home improvement stores. This is a reasonable solution for rooms of any size (and any budget).
- Remember that stoves consume a lot of electricity. While you could compensate for this by turning off your central heating, using stoves often can add to the cost of your bill.
- Always respect the safety rules for stoves: do not leave them on unsupervised (especially when you sleep) and do not use fuel stoves indoors, as they expose you to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Step 2. Get an electric blanket for your bed
Even though they were once considered kitch, electric blankets are making a comeback thanks to the comfort (and savings) they provide. These devices can allow you to sleep extremely comfortably when it's cold in your room. Most importantly, they use far less energy than electric stoves - a study has shown that on average they save half to three-quarters of the energy.
For maximum comfort, turn on the electric blanket a few minutes before going to bed. To save energy, turn it off before falling asleep
Step 3. Get more blankets
For some people, there is nothing more comfortable than the feeling of being under a heavy pile of blankets in cold weather. The more layers of blankets you use, the more your body heat will be trapped in the bed. The additional layers create pockets of "dead heat" - air that cannot escape into the surrounding cold environment.
- In general, the thickest and fluffiest materials (such as wool, flannel and feathers) are the warmest. Air gets trapped in the tiny spaces within these materials, retaining more heat.
- Don't forget that you can wear blankets even when you're not in bed - a perfect solution when you don't feel ready to leave the warm comfort of bed yet.
Step 4. Get thicker curtains
Windows are often a major cause of heat loss in rooms. To counter this, try hanging heavy, thick curtains on the windows and closing them as soon as the evening turns cold. The heavy curtain materials will help slow the heat dissipation through the glass, keeping the room warmer for longer.
If you can't afford curtains, you can achieve a similar effect by hanging old blankets in front of the windows
Step 5. Cover the uncovered floors (and walls)
Smooth, hard surfaces like wood, tiles, and marble have a tendency to retain heat much less than a carpet. An uninsulated floor can, in fact, contribute 10% of the heat loss of a room. If you're tired of having cold toes when you get up in the morning, consider rolling out a rug or even having carpet installed. This will also help keep the room warm once heated - a carpeted room will stay warm longer once the radiators are turned off than one with a bare tile floor.
In some cases, you can also get a benefit by covering the walls with carpet-like materials. Decorative wall hangings and rugs can look great when hung on the wall and can help keep the room slightly warmer
Step 6. Invest in better insulation
While it's a big investment, improving your home's insulation can be a project that pays for itself over time, thanks to its drastic bill-cutting effect (especially for old, drafty homes). Another benefit, of course, is the greater comfort guaranteed by the higher temperatures. Here are some types of insulation you might consider:
- Wall insulation (fiberglass, etc.)
- Window insulation (double and triple glazed windows, protective films, etc.)
- Door insulation (draft shields, floor seals, etc.)
- Every home is different, so the amount of work required varies a great deal. Before making any final decision, talk to an industry expert (or more than one) and ask for a project quote to see if this is the best solution.
Advice
- To sleep better, try drinking something warm before bed that doesn't keep you awake - decaffeinated tea for example.
- Don't sacrifice body heat to keep your head warm. Science has proven that the old myth that men usually lose more than half of the heat from their heads is false.
