Get your warm sweaters out as the Cypriot winter season begins. The temperatures in Cyprus generally do not plummet to the low levels of other European countries. However, the high humidity levels and lack of proper insulation in buildings result in cold residents for a few months of the year.
Whether you rent or buy a home in Cyprus, many of them are built with only the hot summer weather in mind and little to no consideration for the annual cooler season. So, it is up to each household to install their own heating methods.
Home heating systems
First of all, we have classic central heating systems. Central heating is great for keeping your whole house or apartment warm. It has many perks, such as water heating, custom temperature settings and automated scheduling. The option of central heating will have you feeling toasty on cold winter mornings.
Alternatively, you can use air conditioners set to heating mode. The majority of homes in Cyprus already have air conditioners, so this is a popular option.
Using central heating and air conditioners to warm up your home is perhaps the most efficient option for large-scale area heating. However, it’s best to optimise your usage as they can amount to some very costly bills at the end of the month.
Optimise your living space
Heating devices are great for producing heat, but what about preserving it? Here are a few simple tricks that you can use to hold onto as much warmth as possible.
Insulate points of entry
The doors and windows in homes can be prime sources for unwanted cold drafts to seep through. You can solve this problem by covering the edges of all entry points with insulation tape, ensuring no gaps remain. Another popular DIY insulation method is to use a blanket or towel at the foot of doors to fill up any spaces.
Close your curtains
Furthermore, make sure that you close your curtains and windows when the sun starts to go down. The sunlight is great for warming up during the day, but you want to preserve as much heat as possible when it starts to get dark.
Move your furniture away from radiators
Another simple protocol to save heat is ensuring your furniture doesn’t block your radiators. If a couch is placed directly in front of a functioning radiator, it will mercilessly absorb all of the emitted heat. So, to get full use of your electricity and energy, move that furniture out of the way.
Use carpets and rugs
The cold season is an ideal time to get your rugs/carpets out of storage and onto the floors of your home. Having blank tiled floors is a sure way to make you freeze your toes off. Keeping your feet warm is vital for maintaining a comfortable overall body temperature. Rugs and carpets preserve heat and are generally comfier to walk or sit on in cold weather.
Gas / electric / fire / pellet (external) heaters
Some people opt for external heating devices, such as gas, electric, fire or pellet-fueled heaters. Each type of heater has its pros and cons. For example, external electric heaters are easiest to use as you only need to plug them into a socket, but pellet-fueled heaters are cheaper to power and more eco-friendly. Some pellet-fueled heaters are even compatible with water boilers and stoves, eliminating the need for a costly traditional central heating system.
Fireplaces are another viable option; They can create a wonderful, cosy ambience in a room while providing a natural heat and light source. You can use it to roast chestnuts and marshmallows to your liking and to get into the warm and fuzzy feeling of Christmas. The only downside is that fireplaces are not always readily built into the average Cypriot house or apartment, thus making them fairly uncommon.
Personal heating items
If you aren’t warm enough yet, you can go a step further by using smaller devices made especially to keep you warm. Electric heated blankets are ideal for accommodating a warm night’s sleep without needing to splurge on central heating. Cosy up with an electric heated blanket, and you’re sure to feel toasty in minutes.
Additionally, you can opt for an even more budget-friendly option, the hot water bottle. Hot water bottles are a cheap and easy source of warmth that can also soothe muscle and joint pains.
What is the best way to heat a Cypriot home on a budget?
Let us know in the comments what methods you use to keep warm!
I think also it’s important to note that you have to check on some “home entries”. My husband and I had completely prepare our home for the winter but we found out that our windows need replacement because these are some entries that we usually do not think about yet they are there. We found out that some windows we had needed replacement (we got https://www.encinitaswindow.com/ to take care of that) – because it’s where most heat or cold get through. Even if you have a heater on or you close doww the windows – if there’s a point around there that’s “leaking” or need replacement, you got to to do that asap.