(BPT) - It's a cold winter day, so you've decided to take a hot shower to warm up and relax. However, as soon as you step out of the steamy heat into your cold bathroom, the comforting warmth of your bath is replaced by an icy draft that makes you shiver before you can grab your towel.
This case of the "shiver shocks" doesn't just make the aftermath of your shower unpleasant. It's a sign of a colder home.
Instead of accepting a cold home as a part of winter life, consider taking simple steps to create a warm, healthy and inviting home to help stave off the colder weather. Consider adding these easy upgrades to your winter prep to-do list, so you can enjoy the winter season from inside your cozy abode.
Seal drafts
One of the first steps you should take to create a warm home is to find and seal drafts to prevent outdoor cold air from seeping in and warm air from leaking out. Start by checking windows and doors for gaps around the frame. If you find any cracks, seal them off with caulk and consider adding or replacing weather stripping.
Sealing these drafts doesn't just create a cozy home. This simple fix can also improve energy efficiency!
Use a bathroom-safe space heater and fan
High indoor relative humidity (RH) doesn't just make your home feel colder; it can make it harder for your body to stay warm. Humid air sticks to your skin, and that moisture conducts heat away from your body. That's why when you step out of a hot shower or bath, you're hit with the shiver shocks.
You can easily elevate your bath experience and keep moisture and cold at bay by installing a bathroom-safe space heater and exhaust fan. A solution like the Panasonic Whisper Cozy offers you relief from the wet cold.
Designed for both ease of installation and code compliance, the Whisper Cozy® fan offers enhanced heating technology that swiftly warms up bathrooms, creating a warmer and more comfortable space. The fan/heater also promotes a healthier environment by efficiently removing excess humidity and moisture, so you can enjoy your bathing experience knowing you'll be warm during and after your bath or shower.
Use air quality sensors
While winter is known for having dry air outdoors, the indoors can have too much moisture. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when temperatures dip, air holds less moisture, causing water to condense on cold surfaces like windows, bathroom mirrors and tiles.
This moisture can increase the RH, creating the perfect environment for mold and mildew to thrive, leading to serious structural problems, a colder home and poor indoor air quality (IAQ).
Keep track of the indoor RH and other IAQ factors with IAQ sensors like Swidget. Once you know how humid it is indoors, you can take steps to manage the moisture to create a cozier, healthier home for your family.
Pro tip: Keep your indoor RH below 60%, but ideally between 30% and 50%. During the winter, you may want to err closer to 30%.
Install heated towel racks
One extra step you can take to add a touch of cozy luxury and warmth to your bathroom is to install a heated towel rack. When you take a warm towel from the rack and wrap yourself in it as you exit the shower, you can enjoy a spa-like moment that makes the winter months more indulgent. Plus, the rack can also drive out extra moisture, ensuring you always have dry, warm towels.
Remember, winter prep isn't just about layering up in coats, sweaters, socks and snow gear. Creating a cozy and comforting home environment is an essential step in your winter prep. Using these tips, you can create a warmer, welcoming space that you'll be happy to step into every day this winter.