We’ve all been there, wondering how to sleep if the bedroom is too cold. A furnace that won’t work is a quick recipe for a cold night, and while there are options for fixing a furnace fast, what can you do until then? How do you warm up the house when the furnace is broken?
When your furnace breaks, there are a few tactics you can employ during the winter season that can help you stay warm, from space heaters to sealing your doors and windows. If you want to learn more about how you can keep the cold air out and the warm air in, allow BVS Home Experts, responsible for top-notch furnace repair in Sugar Land, TX, to lay out everything you need to know.
How To Warm Up the House When the Furnace Is Broken
When you catch yourself in the cold without a furnace, it’s difficult to keep the chills at bay. Fortunately, a few methods may help improve your situation, whether you’re dealing with a winter storm or just a chilly afternoon.
How do you warm up the house when the furnace is broken in the winter? Below, we detail a few options that you can use, assuming your house has power.
Seal Any Air Leaks
When your furnace suddenly breaks down, this means that your air will only get colder as time goes by. In light of this, you should consider sealing any areas of your home that have drafts, whether they lead directly outside or not. Reducing the airflow between rooms with sealant, sealing tape, or towels can help keep the hot air in and the cold air out.
Use a Space Heater
While your furnace may be out for the count, a space heater can warm a room just fine. If your nearby outlet can handle it, a space heater is perfect for getting your bedroom through a cold night. When using your space heater, be sure that it’s completely safe by taking a few precautions.
For example, you should make sure nothing flammable is near your unit, such as blankets, pillows, and even dust that accumulates on the top. Also, make sure that not too much else uses the same outlet so you don’t overload your breaker.
Use the Sunlight
If it’s still light outside, one way you can help steadily raise the internal temperature of your home is by letting the light in. Any blinds or curtains you have in the house would do better for you if peeled them back to let light in while keeping the cold wind out. During daylight hours, you can use the sun to your advantage until it sets, which is when you should draw your curtains back in again to help preserve the heat.
Dress Warmly
How do you warm up the house when the furnace is broken and you don’t have many other options?
If you don’t have a way to keep the entire house warm, try starting with just yourself. Wearing an extra layer or two while moving around in your home can do a lot to warm you up, especially if you’re doing active tasks like housework. If it’s an especially cold day, consider dressing as if you were outdoors in multiple layers instead of just a sweater or small coat.
Drink Warm Beverages
While a hot cup of tea is no substitute for a functioning furnace, it doesn’t hurt when it’s chilly outside. Drinking something like hot chocolate can raise your internal body temperature and make it just a little easier to deal with a cold house. Basking in the steam coming from your drink can also be a therapeutic and warming experience.
Use a Fireplace
If you have it, consider breaking out a few logs to use by the fireplace. Before you try lighting your fire, make sure that your fireplace is safe to use. You can do this by opening the chimney flue and checking to see if everything is clear for operation.
Make Some Baked Goods
One unconventional but ultimately safe (and tasty) way to get your house a little warmer is by baking and cooking in the kitchen. When working, especially in a smaller kitchen area, things can get considerably warmer. After you’re done cooking or baking, you can leave the oven door open just a little to provide heat to the rest of the home if it’s safe enough to do so.
Exercise
While we don’t recommend you do this in multiple layers of clothing, moving around and breaking a sweat is a great way to keep yourself warm. While it’s only a temporary solution, even just a push-up or two can help make your body considerably warmer. Not to mention, it’s good for you in the long run.
Use Rugs
Although you might not realize it, your floors are a source of heat loss in your home. If you have tile, wood, or stone flooring, you may notice that it gets significantly colder in your house than in homes with carpet. If you want to keep yourself warm when you have no heat source, try breaking out a few rugs to spread along the floor.
Rugs and blankets, while being a stylish choice for your home decor, can also help keep the heat in by insulating the base of your home. Sheets, spare planets, or thin carpets can help keep the place warm while making for a nice nesting spot for you and your family to huddle up cozily together next to a fire.
Ready To Fix Your Furnace With BVS Home Experts?
While there are plenty of answers to the question, “How do you warm up the house when the furnace is broken?” there is really only one permanent solution. We understand that with your furnace not igniting, you want a solution fast.
If you want help with your furnace, call our team at BVS Home Experts in Sugar Land, Texas, at 281-609-3650 for more information.
