Well, friends, as you might have seen already, winter is coming! We have 25 tips to save on heating costs that will help you stay cozy while saving big bucks on your energy bill. And even though we know we’re not in the midst of winter yet, and while it’s still a couple of weeks ahead, energy costs are starting to pile up.
And trust us, we know it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the happiest season of all, as Andy Williams says. It’s our favorite season, we might add, and while you might be enjoying the outdoors, the Christmas lights, sharing with your loved ones, and those crazy shopping sprees, we all love to come back to a warm place by the end of the day.
Heating your home is necessary for survival, but you don’t need to break the bank to be warm and cozy because you know what isn’t as fun as this merry season? It is to start a new year with skyrocketing energy bills. So without further ado, let’s begin with the tips to save on heating costs!
Source: Photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash
1. The first step to save on heating costs is to understand your heating system
If you want to save on heating costs, you first need to identify your heat source. This can be gas heat, central electricity system, wood, stoves, etc. If your heating system is not that obvious, you can start by researching, asking your landlord, or checking if you need to talk to the utility company to turn on the gas.
2. Get an Energy Audit
A home energy audit will help you identify those areas where you are losing heat in your home and tell you precisely what you need to save on heating costs to finally lower your energy expenses. While you can perform an energy audit on your own, engaging a professional to do it for you may be more cost-effective. An expert would often have more tools and equipment to better understand your home’s unique areas of concern.
You might be able to implement energy-saving solutions right after the audit. If you’re unsure who to hire for an energy audit, your local electric provider can recommend one professional in your area.
3. Invest in insulation
One of the most essential tips to save on heating costs is to have a well-insulated home. If your house is drafty and poorly insulated, don’t worry, there are many ways to fix those cracks and seal those air leaks. Head out to your closest convenience store and buy rubber window seals. They’re not expensive, and they turn out really handy. You can also look for power outlet covers to prevent drafts and small air leaks.
4. Don’t make sudden changes in temperature; try keeping it steady
If you keep your home cold when you’re away, and as soon as you arrive, you crank up the heat, not only your HVAC system will be working harder, but you could be setting it up for failure. According to the US Department of Energy, in the winter, you can save on heating costs by setting the thermostat to 68°F when you’re awake and lower when you’re asleep or away from home. Just remember to put it to at least 55°F to prevent your pipes from freezing.
5. Keep an eye on your home’s humidity
Dry winter air dries out your skin and makes you feel colder. Instead of turning up the heat, use a humidifier to maintain a humidity level of 30%-%50 in your house. You’ll be able to keep your thermostat set at a lower temperature without being too chilly.
6. Buy a small space heater
Another way to save on heating costs is to buy a small radiator. They can help you keep warm the rooms that you use the most without having to crank up the heat all around the house. Remember to be strategic with heat; there are rooms where you spend more time and need to be warm, but others need to be warm enough so the pipes don’t freeze. Just try to use it properly and don’t burn your home.
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7. Layers and layers
Remember those times when your mom forced you to wear a sweater? Here is where those ugly socks your grandma gave you for Christmas last year can come in handy. One effective way to save on heating costs is to layer up. Clothes can make a significant difference in how you perceive the weather. Make sure you put on a sweater, layer leggings, use some shirts under your long sleeves and thick socks. Also, remember to have a big fluffy robe to put on when you finish showering.
8. Burn some candles
Candles are a great way to boost your coziness and to feel your home more welcoming. They’re not only warm, but they can make your home smell delicious and will help you identify air leaks; if you notice a smoke trail being pushed in one direction of the room near doors or windows after lighting a candle, you most likely have an air leak that may be fixed with caulk or similar sealant and it won’t be helpful to save on heating costs.
9. Replace your HVAC filters
If you have a forced-air heating system, your furnace probably has a filter that collects dust, pet hair, and other microscopic particles. As you use your heating system in the winter, the filter can become rather filthy, reducing the performance of your heating system. Make sure you replace it at least once a month or every two months max.
10. A little maintenance never killed nobody; keep your HVAC in good shape
Your heating system will run more efficiently and will make you save on heating costs if checked regularly. Signing up for a service agreement for your heating system may be a wise option. A yearly tune-up and maintenance check of your HVAC is included on those contracts. Regularly inspecting your heating system increases your chances of catching minor problems early and resolving them before requiring significant repairs or even replacement.
11. Burst some moves
Start your day with your favorite playlist; throw some dance moves when you wake up, and it helps you be motivated to get yourself up, move around and warm yourself up.
12. Invest in a smart thermostat
If you want to take things a step further and save on heating costs – big time – you might want to consider putting a smart thermostat in your house. When a smart thermostat learns your preferences, it starts adjusting the temperature in your house for you based on whether you are at home or in bed. Instead of remembering to reduce the temperature at night or to turn it up every day, it does it automatically.
Source: Photo by Christin Hume from Unsplash
A variable-rate might kill your pocketbook with the cold weather coming ahead. Suppose you want to save on heating costs and have lower energy bills overall. In that case, you should definitely switch to a fixed-rate electricity plan, where you can set a rate for a period and enjoy the holidays without having to care about the increases in the energy market.
This ensures that your price will not vary throughout the contract’s time; however, if market prices decline, you may have to wait until your contract ends to receive a better deal. Check your contract’s disclosure statement for terms and conditions to determine what happens once your period ends. If you’re not sure how all that process works, we’re here for you. At Click2Power, we help you get lower energy bills and choose an energy offer that best fits your needs and habits.
14. Organize your furniture
Giving your home’s rooms a fresh makeover may provide more than just aesthetic benefits and will help you save on heating costs. Moving furniture around can help increase circulation in space, allowing heat from vents to be dispersed more evenly. If you put sofas, mattresses, or bookshelves in front of a room’s heating vents, you’re restricting the passage of air. Remove furniture from near vents to allow heat to circulate easily. Furniture should be kept at least a few feet away from any vents.
15. Use the sun in your favor
Allow the sun to warm your home throughout the day, then draw the curtains at night to keep the heat in. Keep trees and bushes cut away from the sides of the house that gets a lot of sunlight so the windows can get enough light.
16. Turn down your heater if you have friends over
When you have friends over, the room can get warm pretty quickly. Remember to turn down your heater a couple of degrees to let your home heat itself with your friends’ presence. This way you enjoy the holidays and save on heating costs.
17. Use your fireplace
If you have a plentiful wood supply, using your fireplace more frequently will allow you to lower the thermostat and save on heating costs. However, when not in use, ensure the flue is entirely closed. If the seal isn’t tight enough, you may always buy a fireplace blanket or an inflated chimney balloon.
18. Keep your doors shut
Ensure that the doors and vents in the rooms you are not using are closed. Your home most likely contains many rooms, each with its own entrance. Simply locking the doors to each room can help you save on heating costs. Your heating system will only have to work as hard to heat each individual room rather than attempting to warm the entire house at once.
19. Use your ceiling fans appropriately
If you turn your ceiling fan backward, you’ll see that it’ll force the heated air back down to the floor. Switches on most ceiling fans allow you to adjust the direction of the motor movement. Slow fan speeds are excellent because they gently push warm air down without causing drafts. Ceiling fans may also be used to save on heating costs. Remember, you should turn the ceiling fan clockwise and set it to low speed; heated air that has ascended to the ceiling will fall back into the living space.
20. Make sure your water heater is insulated
To prevent heat loss and avoid your water heating from overworking, buy an insulating jacket and throw it on.
21. Take advantage of hot showers
After a hot shower, if you want to save on heating costs, don’t grab for the exhaust fan switch so quickly. The steam’s humid air will most likely spread to nearby places, warming the air in the process.
22. Hot drinks and a blanket
If it’s too cold outside or not chilly enough to put on the central heating yet, bundling up and sipping a hot beverage should keep you warm. It wouldn’t hurt to have a hot water bottle and a blanket nearby. This will help you save on heating and energy costs, but make sure it doesn’t get too cold, or you’ll have to deal with frozen pipes!
23. Reuse the heat in your place
We’ll be using a lot of energy this winter, but there are several tricks you may conserve energy & make it go further in keeping you warm. Have you been baking? Once you’ve finished, leave the oven door open to allow the warm air to circulate around the room. Do you require a shower? Allow the humidity to warm the air instead of using the bathroom fan.
24. Reduce the temperature of your water heater
This is a pretty simple approach that may help you save on heating costs and a lot of money on your energy bills. Turning down your water heater by 10 degrees will save you 3-5% of energy costs. A hot water temperature of 120-122 degrees is enough to control germs and bacteria. Once you’ve adjusted your water heater correctly, make sure you’re making tiny lifestyle modifications to ensure you’re not wasting any hot water.
That’s all there is to it! This upcoming winter, we’re here to help you save money on your energy bill. As you can see, it’s easy to save on heating costs, and it doesn’t require a lot of time, money, or effort. Do you think you’re overpaying for electricity? Give us a call and shop around for a better deal. There are many negotiation opportunities as long as you live in a deregulated state.
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