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How do I get the house I rent to stay warm?

I rent a house so there isn't much I can do. It has hard wood floors, an is an OLD house, so I guess that there isn't very much insulation in it. Can some one please tell me the cheapest way to get my house to stay warm. An don't say buy your own home cuz where I live the houses are to high at the moment to buy.

Public Comments

1. I like hard wood floors. wish i had one. I would get a large rug and put it on the floor. Other than that, nut much you can do.
2. Keep the heat on 65 and buy a humidifier. Size it for your house( buy more than one if necessary). Moisture in the air transmits heat faster thusly making it more consistantly warmer in your house Careful not to crank em too high if moisture starts to form on the inside of the windows it's a little too much. You don't want to start a mold problem
3. turn up the heat
4. you should definitely check when the last time you changed your air filter. this will definitely effect your heating and temperature in your home.
5. block off all drafts,doors windows etc. put plastic on drafty windows,check furnace filter make sure its not dirty and restricting air flow.Thats about all you can do if your renting,good luck
6. The utility companies usually will come to your home for free and do and energy assessment and tell you where you are loosing the most heat and such. It is worth the call and some even have programs to fix the place even though you are a renter but us usually income based so you would have to see if you qualify. You could use this information to talk with your landlord about the major items but things like putting plastic over your windows in the winter or finding ways that are cheap to keep drafts from sneaking in the doors can help alot. If your filter is plugged or the blower isn't working - all these things could make for a colder home. Make sure the thermostat is working. If you have it set to 70 degrees it should be reading 69-71 if it is an old manual thermostat. Sometimes dust can collect on the mercury ball inside the old ones and just taking the cover off and blowing in the inside can get rid of dust making it work better. Make sure to change the furnace filter once a month and if your landlord has not had the furnace checked in 2 years ask him to do so. they will check for carbon monoxide leaks and make sure it is operating at it's best. An older furnace should be checked once a year (15 yrs or older) The average life span of a furnace is 25 yrs.
7. I have always found an electric blanket to help me feel cozy.
8. I say go with the answer Curious gave you. Cheap and warm
9. Seal the windows. I rented a house like that a few years back and you could pretty much feel the breeze coming through the windows b/c they were old. Also, I'm assuming you have radiator heat and not forced air. I have lived in a few places with radiators and have found that it is really difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature. You may want to try getting a small space heater and/or an electric blanket. You wouldn't want to keep the space heater on all the time, just keep it on in whatever room you are in when you are home. Also, get a warm pair of slippers.