There are several inexpensive ways to help make your home more comfortable during the winter months. Before winter sets in, check insulation in the attic and in the basement in your home. Adding insulation to the basement ceiling will help insulate your home from cold air coming through the floorboards of the main floor.  Replace worn weatherstripping around windows and doors to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. These inexpensive ways to weatherize your home will help retain heat and  save you hundreds of dollars in heating bills.

Service furnaces regularly and change air filters every two to three months. Failure to do so could shorten the life of the furnace. Check heating ducts for obstructions on a regular basis to make sure air flows properly throughout the ducts, which ensures even heating in the home.

Check for cracks where cold air can come in from outside and where heat can escape. Small cracks can be sealed with caulking, while larger cracks may require spackling. If you live in a region known for cold winters, sealing windows with sheets of plastic will help keep cold air from coming into your living areas. Stores such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Lowes carry complete kits various size windows for under $20.

Some homes have hardwood flooring which can be beautiful to look at. However, if you live in a colder climate, and you don’t want to cover the entire hardwood floor, you can choose from a large variety of colors, sizes and styles of area rugs from stores that carry home furnishings. Area rugs help retain heat in each room.

Many people set their thermostats from sixty-eight to seventy degrees to try to control the costs of using heat. They also realize they may have at least one room that they do not use on a regular basis that does not need heat, like a laundry room, guest bedroom or spare room. Closing the air vents and doors in those rooms will help direct the heat towards the rooms you do use.

 Quite a few people have found they save even more in heating costs by purchasing room heaters and using them only in the rooms they regularly use. With new technology, there are many types of room heaters to choose from – radiant heaters, baseboard heaters, and oil-filled radiator heaters, among others. Some heaters blow heat in one direction, while others oscillate.  Manufacturers of each heater provide information indicating the approximate room size in which the heater works best.  Pellet stoves or wood burning stoves are another way to warm your home and may be more energy efficient for your budget..

Wearing layers of clothing helps retain body heat and you may not have to raise the thermostat as often.  Investing in some inexpensive weatherizing products and room heaters can make your life more comfortable during cold spells and save you money in the end.