Many Portuguese are well acquainted with this challenge: winter arrives, and our homes seem to retain the cold. Due to traditional architecture and often less effective insulation, the interior of houses in Portugal can be surprisingly colder than the outside.
Don't worry! Knowing how to heat your home efficiently without skyrocketing your electricity bill is possible. At CasaMatch, we’ve gathered practical and economical tips to keep your home comfortable and cozy during the colder months.
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1. Optimizing Windows and Doors: The Battle Against Air Leaks
Windows and doors are the main points of heat escape. Solving these "micro-drafts" is the first and most economical step in figuring out how to heat your home:
- Sealing Cracks (The DIY Solution): Use caulking or adhesive rubber seals (known as weather stripping) around window and door frames. These materials are inexpensive and easy to apply, and they can drastically cut down on cold air entry.
- Harnessing Sunlight: During the day, fully open shutters and curtains to capture the maximum amount of solar heat possible (known as thermal gain). As soon as the sun sets, close everything immediately to retain the accumulated heat.
- Thermal Curtains: Invest in thick or thermal curtains. They act as an extra layer of insulation, preventing cold air from windows from reaching the room.
2. Maximizing Generated Heat (Appliances and Equipment)
If you already use heating, use it intelligently:
- Strategic Heater Placement: If you use portable heaters (oil, gas, or electric), position them in the centre of the room or near the areas where you spend the most time, not next to windows or doors where heat can be quickly lost.
- Appliance Clearance: Ensure you do not have furniture or curtains blocking radiators or heaters. The flow of hot air should be free to circulate throughout the room.
- The Aluminium Foil Trick (Heaters): If you have radiators against exterior walls, place a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil between the radiator and the wall. The aluminum will reflect heat back into the room instead of it being absorbed by the cold wall.
3. The Floor and Walls: Where the Cold Hides
In homes with cold floors (like tile or stone), the floor can be a major heat sink.
- Heavy Rugs: A simple yet effective investment is covering cold floors with large, thick rugs. These not only insulate against the cold coming from below but also help retain heat in the room.
- Close Unused Rooms: If you have rooms you don't use in winter (guest rooms, storage), keep the doors closed. This helps concentrate the heat in living areas, making heating more efficient.
4. The Cozy Strategy: Personal Heating
Sometimes, the best way to heat is to heat yourself, not the air around you.
- The Power of the Duvet: In bed, swap thin blankets for a warm duvet (edredom) made of feathers or fibre with high insulation power. This is the most effective and economical way to guarantee warm nights.
- Throws and Blankets: Use thick blankets while sitting on the sofa. Covering yourself instantly retains the heat your body produces, providing immediate comfort without turning on the heating.
- Hot Water Bottle: Use a hot water bottle (saco de água quente) in bed 15 minutes before lying down to warm the sheets. It's an old trick, but a guaranteed winner.
- Appropriate Clothing: Layers of clothes, thick socks, slippers, and a warm robe are the first line of defence against the cold indoors.
Photo from Amin Hasani on Unsplash
5. Smart Investments: Long-Lasting Solutions
For those looking for a more permanent solution for how to heat your home and have a budget to invest, these are the options with the highest return on energy efficiency:
- Replacing Frames (Windows and Doors): The most impactful investment. Replacing old windows with thermal break frames and high-performance double glazing (low-e) almost completely eliminates air leaks and cold transfer.
- Air Conditioning with Heating Function (Heat Pump): Modern air conditioning systems (A++ rating or higher) are one of the most efficient ways to heat. Since they operate using a heat pump, they generate about 3 to 4 times more heat than the electricity they consume.
- Ceiling Insulation: Insulating the roof or false ceiling with materials like mineral wool or injected polyurethane is essential, as heat rises. Good ceiling insulation retains heat and prevents cold from descending from the tiles.
6. Ventilation and Safety (Without Losing Heat!)
It may seem counterintuitive, but ventilating is crucial for air health, even in winter.
- Quick Ventilation: Open the windows for only 5 to 10 minutes during the warmest hours of the day. This allows for air renewal without drastically cooling the walls and furniture (which retain heat).
- Gas Safety: If you use butane or propane gas heaters, always ensure a small opening for ventilation to prevent the accumulation of carbon monoxide – safety comes first.
By applying these simple tips and considering smart investments, you will not only discover how to heat your home more economically but also transform your home into a cozy refuge, even when the Portuguese winter bites.