We’re officially past the winter solstice! Though Alaskans are officially gaining daylight, we still have plenty of days ahead to enjoy the Great Indoors. At HeatSource Mechanical, we are big fans of having a cozy home. In fact, the safety and comfort of your home is our top priority. With that in mind, here are our top 10 favorite tips to keep your home snug this winter.
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1. First Impressions Last
Your entry way offers guests the first impression of your home. Spruce up your entry way with a new welcome mat, where guests can shake off the snow. Bins are helpful for organizing winter gear and keeping your entry tidy. Place a basket of slippers nearby so friends and family can don a cozy pair as they doff their snow-boots.
2. Welcome with a Scent
Nice smells bring back special memories, so spice up the season with your favorite fragrance. Warming pots with wax melts and essential oil diffusers are safe and efficient ways to fill any room with delightful scents. Or try simmering a pot homemade potpourri using cranberries, fruit peels (like lemons, oranges, apples or cuties) and spices such as cinnamon and cloves. In addition to smelling wonderful, a simmering pot of potpourri helps add humidity to your home.
3. Put Your Memories on Display
Updated frames can make old memories feel brand new. If your family photos are looking “dated,” explore fresh mat and framing options and play with new arrangements. Mixing children’s artwork and other mementos into your collections brings charm and personality to the home.
4. Short Days Require Soft Light
While Alaskans miss the sunshine during the dark days of winter, soft lighting with warm-toned LED bulbs are always preferred over brash fluorescent or blue-white lighting. Switching to LED bulbs has been shown to cut energy use by 75%, saving you money each month on utilities.
It’s worth mentioning here that string-lights are not restricted to Christmas! They come in a variety of shapes and styles to add a delightful glow to any room. Try highlighting a window with an electrical strand of LED lights or create an arrangement of glass jars with tiny battery-powered LED lights inside.
5. Warm Your Windows with a Fresh Look
Warm up window treatments during the winter months with heavier curtains, preferably with thermal lining. Sometimes a little change will do you good, as the saying goes. Moreover, heavier curtains help curve your heating bill by adding extra insulation and blocking cold air drafts. Then, come break-up, like the changing of the guard you can return to lighter summer-weight curtains.
6. Keep Seating Intimate and Accessible
Come on and attack those stacks! Decluttering can make a world of difference in the tranquility of a living space. Pick one spot and make a concentrated effort to tidy it up. Baskets are great for organizing and camouflaging items better left unseen. Since everyone appreciates an “atta girl” or “atta boy,” when finished, sit with a cup of hot cocoa and celebrate the accomplishment of completing the task. Best of all, you can enjoy them in your newly-tidied seating area.
7. Make the Kitchen the Heart of the Home
Maintain an assortment of cookies, teas and cocoas should unexpected company stop by. Or try one of these delicious hot beverages!
Russian Tea (For All Ages)
- 1 cup Instant Tea Powder
- 2 cups Orange-Flavored Drink Mix (e.g. Tang)
- 2 cups White Sugar
- 2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- ½ tsp. Ground Cloves
Mix together and store in a pretty, sealed container. Serve 1-2 tablespoons with hot water in a heat-proof mug and enjoy a cozy moment with your favorite family film.
Caramel Apple Cider Hot Toddy (For Grown Folks Only!)
There’s nothing like a hot toddy to warm the soul on a chilly night. The key to this amazing hot toddy is the caramel vodka.
- 1/2 Gallon Apple Cider
- 1-1/2 Cups of Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka
- 1/4 – 1/2 Cup of Bourbon (optional but highly recommended to balance the sweetness)
- 2-3 Cinnamon Sticks
- Whipping Cream (top it off in style! Canned whip makes a lovely presentation, but freshly whipped heavy cream tastes heavenly)
- Dash of Nutmeg or Cinnamon
Simmer the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan on the stovetop. Serve in heat-proof mugs and top with the whipped topping of your choice, and a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon for the perfect finish.
8. Cozy to Your Toesies
For many, 2020 has meant bringing those “long-hours-at-the-office” home! Having a designated workspace that is both comfortable and separate from relaxation areas is important for mental health. A small sheepskin or plush rug under the desk provides insulation from cold floors and soothing, tactile stimulation to the feet while working. Lap-sized quilts or throws provide warmth and comfort too.
While adding minor adjustments and accoutrements to a work space can make working at home more enjoyable, sometimes greater solutions are needed! It might be time to consider this ultra-efficient space heater by Rinnai. Whether you are looking for supplemental heat in a small area or the whole house, Rinnai offers the ultimate flexibility in home heating, without the use of duct work.
9. Don’t Forget Your Greens
Alaskans know far too well that living in a winter wonderland often leads to a dire need for green! Live plants and fresh flowers remind Alaskans that one day spring will indeed come and our beloved Mat-Su Valley will be teaming with life once again. Christmas cacti bring a welcome pop of color in the dark months of winter and require little care. Start your own “Cactus Derby” where family and friends compete for the best bloom of the season.
10. Enjoy Peace of Mind Year Round
Without a doubt, the number one tip for keeping your home cozy is joining HeatSource Mechanical’s Comfort Club! Comfort Club members enjoy 10% off all routine service and repairs year-round and receive priority scheduling. That means there’s no excuse not to schedule your maintenance early.
Fast, Reliable Service Even After Hours
Sometimes, even with the best-made plans, furnaces can go out. Alaskans know there is no time to waste. HeatSource Mechanical offers fast and reliable service to customers in the Mat-Su Valley, from Eagle River to Wasilla, Palmer and Sutton. Our NATE-certified technicians are here for you anytime, day or night! If your furnace isn’t working the way that it should be, we provide the immediate furnace repair you need. As always, we’ll never charge you to provide an estimate.
No one wants to wake up to a cold house and be forced to deal with an HVAC emergency without warning. Routine furnace service and regular maintenance are the key to keeping your heating system running at its highest efficiency and improving its life expectancy. It’s always best to be proactive and not reactive, so call HeatSource Mechanical today to keep your family cozy.
Ready for a Furnace Upgrade?
Is your furnace showing its age or permanently on the fritz? Is it making loud noises and costing more money in fuel and repairs than its worth? It might be time for an upgrade. We’re a Lennox Premier Dealer and we’d love to chat to you about the difference a new furnace can make.
Lennox manufactures some of the quietest and most efficient heating systems on the market today. Innovations like Precise Comfort technology help them keep temperatures perfectly consistent, even on the coldest days. So instead of thinking about getting through winter, you can focus on enjoying it. Lennox furnaces are also engineered to deliver unprecedented efficiency, with energy ratings of up to 98.7% AFUE that can save you hundreds of dollars each year on utility bills.
Whether you are looking for repairs, or routine service or maintenance on your furnace, HeatSource Mechanical is the best choice for any HVAC needs in the Mat-Su Valley.
Want to schedule an appointment? Contact us today.
