Simple Tips to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter
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As winter temperatures drop, many people reach for the thermostat. However, there are simple, low-cost ways to keep your home warmer for longer without turning up the heating.
One easy trick is making a draught excluder from an old sock. A draught excluder blocks cold air that sneaks in under doors, helping rooms stay warmer and reducing heat loss.
Another tip involves your kitchen. After cooking, leave the oven door open instead of closing it straight away. The warm air inside the oven can help heat the room, making use of energy you have already paid for.
Clothing choices also matter. Instead of wearing one thick jumper, experts suggest wearing several thin layers. Layers work by trapping pockets of warm air close to your skin, which acts as natural insulation against the cold.
These small changes will not replace central heating completely, but they can help reduce how often you need to use it. With energy prices rising, many households are looking for practical ways to cut costs while staying comfortable. Simple habits, such as blocking draughts and dressing smartly, can make a noticeable difference to how warm a home feels, even before the thermostat is touched.
Trying a few of these tips before switching on the heating could help you save money this winter while still keeping your house cosy and comfortable.
Vocabulary7 words
- draught excluder
- an object that stops cold air from entering under a door
- heat loss
- when warm air escapes from a room or building
- layers
- several items of clothing worn one over another
- insulation
- material or method that keeps heat in and cold out
- thermostat
- a device that controls the temperature of a room
- central heating
- a system that heats a whole building
- energy prices
- the cost of gas or electricity used in a home
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A draught excluder from a sock 2. To let the warm air help heat the room 3. They trap warm air near your skin
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
As winter temperatures drop, many people reach for the _____.
However, there are simple, low-cost ways to keep your home warmer for _____.
One easy trick is making a draught excluder from an old _____.
A draught excluder blocks cold air that sneaks in under _____.
After cooking, leave the oven door open instead of closing it _____.
The warm air inside the oven can help heat the _____.
Instead of wearing one thick jumper, experts suggest wearing several thin _____.
Layers work by trapping pockets of warm air close to your _____.
These small changes will not replace central heating _____.
Simple habits, such as blocking draughts and dressing smartly, can make a noticeable _____.
Discussion questions
- What are some other ways people keep their homes warm without using heating?
- Do you think small changes like these can really make a big difference? Why or why not?
- How do you usually stay warm in winter at home?
- Have energy prices affected how you heat your home? If so, how?
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