How to Heat a Basement Cheaply
A chilly basement is one of the last places you likely want to hang out during those frigid winter months, but the cost of heating such a large space makes it hard to justify keeping it toasty warm. While basements may have a reputation of being cold and damp, their below-ground positioning actually makes them one of the most heat-efficient areas of the house. With the right preventative measures and a few budget-saving tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your basement all year long. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Space heater
- Dark rugs
- Humidifier
- Sheets
- Socks or small pillows filled with rice
- Candle heater
- Draft snakes
- Rubber weather stripping
- Curtains
- Window insulation film
Instructions
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Opt for portable space heaters instead of relying on your home’s furnace. Space heaters are cheap to purchase, inexpensive to operate, and remarkably effective. Not to mention, the built-in safety features modern heaters are equipped with make them child and pet friendly. A few strategically placed space heaters will help keep your basement a comfortable temperature for a fraction of the cost.
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Install a fireplace, if it’s feasible. While the initial installation will cost more, using a fireplace to heat your basement is likely to save you money in the long run.
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Schedule an appointment for an energy audit. Many power companies offer free or low-cost energy audits to help you ensure that you’re getting the most out of the money you spend heating your home. In the meantime, you can start by changing your furnace filter and closing off doors and vents in any rooms you’re not using.
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Open the blinds on all south and east facing windows during the day. If you really want to get prolong the heating, put down some dark-colored rugs near the windows. The rugs will absorb the heat throughout the day and release it back into the room at night.
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Run a humidifier. While it might not technically raise the temperature of your basement, keeping the air humid can cause it feel up to 15 degrees warmer. If you can’t afford a humidifier, try leaving hot water in sinks and bathtubs after you use them.
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Leave the lights on. It may seem counter-intuitive if you’re trying to save money on your power bill, but incandescent bulbs give off a good bit of heat and cost you very little to run. The same goes for other heat producing appliances, like TVs and computers.
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Hang sheets from the ceiling to form a makeshift canopy around your bed. Your breath and body heat will help keep the area warm while you’re sleeping.
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Fill socks or small pillows with rice and microwave them. Place these in your lap or at the foot of your bed to keep smaller areas warm.
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Use a candle heater. A number of retailers sell ceramic candle heaters that magnify the heat from a single candle to heat a relatively large area. Position these heaters strategically throughout the room for overall warmth. And if you’re uncomfortable having an open flame in your basement, you can purchase similar heaters that run off electric “candles.”
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Take preventative measures to keep your basement from losing heat. Line your windowsills with draft snakes (long fabric tubes that block drafts), seal the outside of your windows with rubber weather stripping, layer inexpensive curtains, or coat the glass on your windows with an insulation film that traps heat.
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References
Resources
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