6 low-tech/cost ways to insulate your home over the winter

1. 1.    Tin Foil. A simple and easy way to prevent unnecessary heat loss from radiators, particularly on those attached to external walls, is to use heat reflective aluminum foil behind the radiator. It will help prevent the heat from disappearing through the wall by reflecting it back into the room.

1. 2.    Setting Timers. Setting your timer for your heater is important. "It's a myth that keeping it on all day is better. If it's very cold, the timer should be set to switch the heating on earlier, rather than turning the thermostat up to warm the house rapidly. Keeping a consistent heat throughout the house for the whole day will keep your home warmer.

1. 3.    Clear Your Registers. I know sometimes when you’re going for a certain look in your home or design it can be an eye sore to have furniture such as a couch or entertainment unit a bit away from the wall, but if you are trying to keep your home warm through the day and night avoid placing large pieces of furniture in front of them. If these items are directly on top or very close to your registers they will absorb all your heat! So try at least for the colder months pulling them away from the register.

1. 4.    Natural Sunlight. Try letting some of the natural sun light in during the day! It’s important to use this and bonus it’s FREE! Window shades and curtains should be kept open during the day, and then closing your curtains as soon as the sun falls will maximize your house's potential to retain that heat.

1. 5.    Thick Curtains. Curtains is one of the main ways to retain heat in your home! Curtains with a thermal lining are a relatively cheap option, "The thicker the better," If you don't want to spend too much on new curtains you can line them yourself with materials like cheap fleece. And it's not just windows that can have curtains. Placing a curtain in front of doors to the outside adds another layer of protection.

1. 6.    Close Doors. If you can try closing doors to UN used rooms. Keeping doors closed will prevent cold air moving into the rest of the house and contain the heat you've generated in a smaller area.

Hope these few little tips will help keep you and your family/friends a little warmer this winter without having to spend any extra funds!