How to Circulate Warm Air Around Your Home So You’re Comfortable

Sure, you could put on 2-3 layers of clothing and hide under a blanket all winter long.

But seriously, should you have to do that?

Shouldn’t you be able to just walk around your home freely and feel comfortable?

If that’s what you want to do, but you don’t want to drive your energy bill through the roof, here’s what to do:

1. If You Have a Fireplace or Pellet-Burning Furnace

If you also have forced air, run the system’s fan so the heat circulates throughout your home.

Set your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise. Do this to pull cool air up off the floor and push warm air down to you. Also keep your ceiling fans running at the lowest possible speed. If they run fast, you’ll feel the cool breeze the higher speeds produce.

You can also get as low-tech as a box fan. Interestingly, this sounds a little weird at first and kinda like it wouldn’t work.

But trust us, it’s based on proven science.

Face your box fan at your fireplace. Set the fan to a low speed. Blowing cool air at your fireplace actually creates a convection reaction which forces hot air away from your fireplace.

Strange, huh?

2. Make Sure You Have Adequate Insulation

To keep warm air circulating in your home, you need to actually keep it there in the first place. And that’s insulation’s job.

Windows, doors, and your attic are the most frequent double-agents who let your warm air seep outside. So those are your first areas to inspect and address.

Seals should be on your doors. Plastic should cover your windows. And if you have the money, your attic’s insulation should be at the correct depth.

Your walls should have insulation too. However, they have a lesser impact on your home’s temperature, so they’re lower on your priority list.

In terms of recouping your costs, insulation’s one of the better investments you can make in your home. It typically takes just a few years to make back what you pay for better insulation.

Which of these tips sounds the most doable for you?