Now we will see how to keep your container home warm during winter. You may have seen our previous post about strategies to keep your container home cool during the summer.
Although container homes are really impressive, they are not magical. During winter, just like any other home, they can cool down.
Here are some strategies to ensure your container stays warm during the colder months. All of these tips combined will help you keep your container home warm during winter and comfortable throughout the year.
How to keep your container home warm during winter
1. Open your curtains
Even on a cold day, there is still some warmth to be received from the sun. Most people think they should keep their curtains closed all the time to keep the heat inside, but they are missing out on the heat provided by the sun shining through the windows.
2. Close your curtains
Don’t forget to close the curtains once the sun has set in the evening to avoid losing the accumulated heat from the day. If you are in a very cold location, consider investing in some winter curtains. These curtains will keep you insulated, providing an additional buffer between your warm indoor air and the cold outdoor air.
3. Do you have wooden floors?
Sometimes, certain floors can make you feel cold, and wooden floors are certainly one of those things. Many container homes have wooden floors because they are easy to clean and durable.
However, in winter, they don’t provide any kind of warmth. Cover the wooden floors with a beautiful thick rug during winter. Rugs are not only nicer to feel under your feet, but they also help keep your container home warm, retaining some of the heat.
4. Rearrange your furniture
It’s surprising how many people have their sofa near a drafty window. Simply rearranging your furniture can provide a significant boost in heat.
Furniture you sit on for extended periods, such as dining chairs or the living room sofa, should be placed away from external openings and closer to heat sources.
5. Wear warm clothing
Often, people focus more on heating their homes than on warming themselves up. It’s much easier and quicker to warm up by wearing long sleeves, socks, or a sweater. Layering extra clothing is the cheapest way to stay warm during winter, and it’s also very comfortable.
Other simple things, like eating warm foods such as soups or stews, can warm you up from the inside. And don’t forget to have hot drinks like coffee or hot chocolate!
6. Get a wood stove
Wood stoves can provide an incredible amount of heat in a very short period. Just a few minutes after lighting the fire, they can generate more than enough heat to keep your living room warm. Not only do they heat up quickly, but they are also cheap to operate, especially if you use self-collected firewood!
However, wood stoves are not great for heating the entire house. Nonetheless, you can mitigate this slightly by closing the doors of rooms you don’t want to heat, to keep your container home warm.
7. Open your oven door
Obviously, I am NOT recommending that you turn on the oven on high and leave the door open as a viable and cost-effective way to heat your home. However, a great trick is that once you’ve finished cooking and turned off the oven, leave the oven door open so that the heat can escape and spread throughout the kitchen.
8. Close doors to unused rooms
There’s nothing worse than heating a room nobody is using. It’s very easy to leave a room and forget to close the door behind you. However, this is a surefire way to keep the overall temperature in your container home stable.
Make sure the heat in your home only spreads to the rooms you’re actually using. Right before going to bed, open the bedroom doors to allow the heat to come in and warm up your room.
9. Use double-glazed windows
If you’re in the process of building your container home, consider using double-glazed windows. Although they are more expensive, you will reduce the amount of heat lost through the windows, helping to keep your container home warm, and they will also provide a sound buffer against unwanted outside noise.
10. Seal all leaks
Make sure to seal any gaps that allow air to escape from your home. These are most commonly found around your external doors and windows. Using silicone caulk to seal these areas is a fairly simple DIY job.
11. Get a portable heater
A last resort is to use a portable heater to add some extra warmth. These only heat a very small area and thus are not ideal for heating an entire house. They are a fire hazard and should not be left on overnight. I hope these ideas help you and your container home stay warm throughout the winter!
If you have any other great tips on how to keep your container home warm, feel free to let me know in the comments below.
