10 Free or Cheap Ways to Keep Your Connecticut Home Warmer This Winter

Winter on the Connecticut shoreline? It’s beautiful—until your toes are frozen, your living room’s a wind tunnel, and your heating bill reads like a ransom note.

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Here’s the good news: you don’t need to crank the heat or go broke just to stay warm. These quick, cheap (or totally free) fixes will help you fight back against drafts and cold spots—without calling the oil guy twice a week.

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1. Stop Drafts at the Door (Cost: $0–$15)

Drafty doors and windows are like open invites for cold air. Even tiny gaps can make your furnace work overtime.

✔ Free fix: Roll up a towel and stuff it at the bottom of your door. Not glamorous, but it works.
✔ Budget fix: Grab a door sweep or some weatherstripping from the hardware store—usually under 15 bucks. Seal it, and feel the difference.

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2. Use Curtains Like a Pro (Cost: $0–$20)

Curtains aren’t just for blocking nosy neighbors—they can help trap heat, too.

✔ Open them during the day on south-facing windows to soak up that free sunlight.
✔ Close them at night to keep the warmth inside.
✔ Pro tip: Thick thermal curtains work best, but even an old blanket pinned up gets the job done in a pinch.

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3. Flip Your Ceiling Fan (Cost: Free!)

Ceiling fan in winter? Yep—just flip the switch.

✔ Set it to clockwise on low, and it’ll push warm air back down where you actually live (instead of letting it camp out by the ceiling).

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4. Seal Outlets and Light Switches (Cost: $5–$10 a room)

Believe it or not, cold air can sneak in through your electrical outlets. No joke.

✔ Pick up some foam gaskets (they’re cheap). Pop off the outlet cover, stick the gasket on, and screw the cover back. Boom—draft sealed.

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5. Check Your Vents (Cost: Free!)

If you’ve got a couch parked over your vent or a bed blocking a radiator, you’re literally heating your furniture.

✔ Move stuff away from vents and radiators so that warm air can actually move around the room like it’s supposed to.

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6. Layer Rugs Like a Pro (Cost: $0–$30)

Hardwood and tile floors might look nice, but they’re iceboxes in the winter.

✔ Got extra rugs? Throw them down.
✔ Don’t have any? Find a used one for cheap—it adds insulation and keeps your feet from turning into popsicles.

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7. Close Off Unused Rooms (Cost: Free!)

Why heat the guest room no one’s using or the laundry dungeon you dread walking into?

✔ Close the doors to unused rooms. Keep the warm air where you actually hang out.

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8. Add Moisture to the Air (Cost: Free–$20+)

Dry winter air = cold-feeling air. Add a little humidity and the same temperature suddenly feels way more comfortable.

✔ Free fix: Place a bowl of water near a heat source (like a radiator).
✔ Cheap fix: Pick up a humidifier for 20 bucks or less. Aim for 30–50% humidity.

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9. Bake Something—and Leave the Oven Door Open (Cost: Free + Cookies)

Old-school move: when you’re done baking, turn off the oven and crack the door open.

✔ That residual heat will warm the kitchen.
✔ Bonus: your house smells like cookies, which is basically peak winter happiness.

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10. Want a Long-Term Fix? Insulate. (Cost: Varies—but worth it)

All the hacks above help, but nothing beats proper insulation for long-term comfort and energy savings.

✔ Our cellulose insulation seals out drafts, holds heat like a champ, and helps your heating system chill out. Fiberglass insulation and spray foam insulation also work!

✔ It’s fire-resistant, pest-resistant (shoutout to borate), and made from 85% recycled materials.

✔ Keeps shoreline homes cozy without needing to mortgage the oil tank.

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Warmth Without Wasting Cash

If you’re looking to stay warm without burning through your paycheck, start with these simple, DIY tricks. And when you’re ready for a permanent upgrade that pays for itself? Give us a shout.

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👉 Contact Nealon Insulation for a free consultation and let’s make your home winter-ready—for real.

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P.s. Calculate how much R-Value your home needs