As winter sweeps in we find ourselves spending more time at home and inside than the warmer months. This means, we often see an increase in electricity bills from keeping lights on and heaters going as the temperature drops. The extra costs can be challenging for some people. Below is a few tips and tricks on how you can stay warm and save on some costs.

Keep the heat in:
Closing your curtains during the winter can help reduce up to 10 per cent of heat loss. Close your curtains and night or on windows that don’t catch much sun to trap the heat in. Although, opening the curtains on a sunny day can help boost the temperature via solar energy

Thermostat:
Using a thermostat can be a smart idea, however it is best to lower your thermostat during the night and also when you are away.

Replace your lights with LED’s:
LED light bulbs use up to 80 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs, while producing the same amount of light, and last much longer.

Draught stop:
Block up unused chimneys and stop draughts around doors and windows. You can make your own draught ‘snakes’ by stuffing rugby socks or pantyhose with newspaper or cushion filling. Up to 20 per cent of heating can be lost through draughts.

Layer up:
Staying warm this winter doesn’t have to blow your energy bill through the roof. In fact, it is quite easy to stay warm by layering up with quality clothing and blankets. Putting on extra layers of clothing, investing in thermals and having a good blanket or throw to use when your cold.

We are now in the middle of Autumn with Winter just peering around the corner. We all know with winter comes a lot of rain, wind, hail and quite possibly snow! Your gutters may be the last thing that comes to mind when getting ready for Winter. However if you are not prepared, they can become quite damaged and costly. There are a few ways to avoid some damage and prepare your gutters for winter.

Clears the leaves and debris out of your gutters.

While you should keep your gutters clear of leaves in Autumn. It should also be a high priority on your winter list. When its snows or freezes over night it can add a lot of weight to the gutters and cause them to become detached and collapse.

Realign your gutters.

You will want to make sure your gutters are realigned properly to avoid standing water in your gutters.

Repair any wear and tear.

Make sure your gutters are in working order for the winter months ahead. Seal any cracks, check all joins, and check for any missing or loose fasteners holding your gutters down to avoid them from flying of the roof and causing more damage to your home or those around you.   

Check your downspouts.

You also want to make sure that all downspouts are clear, as a backup could cause your downspout to freeze and crack later in the season.