Depending on your approach to heating, you might be using more energy than you need. For example, if your approach to your home’s thermostat is to “set it and forget it,” your home might be warmer than it needs to be when no one is home or when everyone is asleep. If your house has poorly sealed windows, or if there are air leaks around your power outlets or fireplace, you might experience heat loss.
The good news is that when it comes to ways to save on heating, you often do not have to spend any money at all. There are several free things you can do to help lower your bill.
Tip #1 - Close Off Unused Rooms
Depending on the size of your room and how many people live in it, you might have extra room that you hardly use. If you’re never in the upstairs guest bathroom during the day, then go ahead and shut the door. With the door shut, that’s one less room your HVAC has to heat. It’s one simple (but genius) hack to help save on your heating bill.
Tip #2 - Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans in any of the rooms in your home, you can use them during the colder months of the year to help distribute warm air. Reverse the fans so that the blades turn clockwise during the winter. There should be a small switch at the base of the fan.
Tip #3 - Turn The Thermostat Down
Lowering the thermostat by up to 10 degrees can help you save up to 10% annually on heating.
Some of the best times to turn down your thermostat are bedtime and before you leave for work in the morning. Try sleeping with the temperature set around 63 degrees Fahrenheit. When you leave for work, you might want to lower the heat to 63 or even cooler, as long as no one will be home during the day.
Tip #4 - Rearrange Your furniture & Let The Sun In!
Moving the furniture around can also help to improve the airflow in a room, meaning the heat from the vents is distributed better. If you have couches, beds or bookcases placed in front of the heating vents in a room, the furniture pieces are blocking the flow of air. Move furniture away from vents so that the heat can travel freely. Open your drapes or curtains during the day to enjoy the sun’s heat, but be sure to close them at night to avoid unnecessary heat loss. Closing your drapes adds another layer of much-needed insulation in the winter.
Tip #5 - Seal Air Leaks
If your home has functional windows, first make sure all the latches are indeed closed tightly for the season. Next, inspect the windows to see where the cold air is coming in, or the warm air is going out. You can purchase caulking cord or window seal stripping to close any gaps and cracks around window frames. You can also install interior window plastic, that provides an extra layer of dead air. For drafty doors, install weather-stripping and door sweeps. These do-it-yourself kits are available at most hardware stores, or Amazon.
Happy Saving!
Start with these saving tips and monitor your electric bill for the next couple of months!
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