The winter is the time of the year when you need to get all your heating systems in order. If you are looking for ways to reduce your heating bill this winter, there are many things you can do to save money and energy around your house. Here are nine tips on how to reduce your home’s heating costs during the winter:
- 1. Check and repair insulation issues
- 2. Adjust thermostats for drafty areas
- 3. Check and repair water leaks around the house
- 4. Set the temperature to lower levels at night
- 5. Install exterior shades for summer heating
- 6. Use microwaves and toasters for heating instead of the oven
- 7. Avoid using the fireplace
- 8. Invest in better insulation solutions
- 9. Turn off nonessential lights
1. Check and repair insulation issues
One of the best ways to keep your heating bills low is by making sure that your house and its insulating features are all in good shape. Check the walls, floors, windows, and ceilings for air leaks. Plus, you should make sure all rooms have enough blankets covering them. Insulation is crucial during winter as it helps retain heat in the rooms and keep it from escaping your house.
2. Adjust thermostats for drafty areas
It might be too cold to go around the house at night to adjust your thermostat. But if you are feeling too cold near the windows or doors of your house, make sure that they are all properly sealed. If you cannot reduce the temperature on your thermostats without issues, it might be time to hire a professional contractor.
3. Check and repair water leaks around the house
Water leaks might seem like a small issue, but they can cause significant damage to your heating bills. As water freezes, it expands, which means that a small drip into a crack in a pipe can create a big problem over time. Make sure that all pipes and valves in the house are well-insulated. If you see any water droplets inside walls, ceilings, or floors around your house, immediately shut off the valve to minimize damage, as this is a sign of a bigger issue.
4. Set the temperature to lower levels at night
The right temperature for your house changes throughout the day. If you can, set your heating system to turn on around three hours before waking up and then adjust it back to sleep mode around two hours before bedtime. This way, you can save money on your heating bill throughout the night and during the day, when no one is home.
5. Install exterior shades for summer heating
Install patio sun and windscreens on your windows and door openings. Your house will be on the receiving end of solar heat gain in the wintertime instead of the heat loss it usually experiences during the summer months. This simple technique can help reduce heating costs in your house by up to 10%.
6. Use microwaves and toasters for heating instead of the oven
The oven uses a lot more energy than other appliances such as microwaves or toasters. So if you’re only cooking something small like two slices of toast, you should use your microwave or toaster instead. If you want to bake something in larger quantities, consider scaling it down to fit into your microwave oven too.
7. Avoid using the fireplace
If you have a fireplace, do not use it unless necessary. It will be much cheaper for you to turn on your central heating system for a few hours than to keep the fire going all night long. Plus, it’s not healthy to breathe in all the harmful particles that a fireplace produces.
8. Invest in better insulation solutions
Insulating your home is one of the best ways to reduce heating costs. So if you can afford it, consider investing in better insulation solutions. If your walls are not insulated correctly, you might want to consider installing insulation on the exterior side of your walls.
9. Turn off nonessential lights
While it might be tempting to leave your lights on if you are expecting company, every watt of power that you are not using is money saved on your electricity bill. Be sure that all lights in your house are turned off when nobody is using them. You can also use LED light bulbs that last much longer and use less power than regular bulbs.
It might seem like reducing heating costs during wintertime would involve investing in energy-efficient appliances, but you don’t necessarily have to do that. There are other simple things you can do to reduce your heating costs without having to spend money on new appliances or solutions. These nine tips should be more than enough for you to get started.
Moreover, saving money shouldn’t be your only motivation because reducing your energy consumption can also save the environment. So what are you waiting for? Take this chance to make your house more energy-efficient and reduce your heating costs in the process.
