3 Creative Ways to Use Hot Water to Stay Comfortable This Winter
Your HVAC system works hard to keep your home warm all winter, but it isn’t the only way you can increase your comfort during the winter months.
There’s no denying the critical function of water heaters in homes when it comes to things like taking baths and washing hands, but you’re really missing out if that’s the only way you’re using hot water in your house!
Here are three creative ways to use the power of hot water to stay warm and comfortable all winter long:
- Fill a hot water bottle
- Boil water on the stove
- Open the door when taking a shower
Fill a Hot Water Bottle
One of the oldest ways to stay warm remains one of the best ways to stay warm, and yet it is underused in most homes.
All you have to do is fill a hot water bottle with hot water. You can place a hot water bottle on your lap while you watch TV, place a hot water bottle behind your back to ease sore, tired muscles, and small water bottles can be placed in pockets to keep your hands warm.
One of the best ways to use a hot water bottle is to use it to keep your bed warm. Place a bottle at the end of the bed under the blankets 30 minutes to an hour before you plan to hop in bed and it will be toasty warm.
Boil Water on the Stove
Boiling water on the stove can be a great way to increase the heat in your home, but it’s much more effective as a humidifier.
Boiling water on the stove displaces the water, sending it from the pot to the air in the form of water vapor. Humid air feels warmer than dry air, so your house will automatically feel more comfortable when you boil water. The humidity can also keep your skin moisturized, prevent static cling, and make breathing easier.
Just make sure you don’t leave the pot unattended. That way the water doesn’t boil over, but you can also make sure it doesn’t all boil away either, as an empty pot can get dangerously hot on the stove.
Open the Door When Taking a Shower
Another tried and true way to keep your home a little bit more comfortable this winter season is to leave the door open when you’re taking a shower.
Like boiling a pot of water on the stove, this method involves humidifying the air so that it feels warmer. It can also disperse heat, warming your home.
Prefer to take baths? Instead of draining the water right away, let it sit in the tub until it gets cold. It will continue to warm and humidify the air without any extra hot water or energy used.
Cranking up the heat isn’t the only way to stay warm and comfortable during the winter. When you get creative, you can keep the thermostat down by using hot water to stay warm.
