The colder months of winter can be difficult for some homeowners, especially if they aren’t prepared for the lower temperatures. Proper preparation for harsh winter weather is paramount for your comfort, health, and financial well-being. Without this, homeowners may end up spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on heating bills by the time winter is over. This can be traced back to several issues, including faulty HVACs, improper temperature settings, lack of insulation, and poor usage of heating systems. Luckily, here are some indoor heating tips to help keep your energy bills low when winter comes.
1. Look for Air Leaks and Seal Them Up
If your home has gaps, fissures, or cracks in various points, it could be losing an enormous amount of heated air to the outside surroundings. This means that your heating system has to work harder to compensate for the heat lost, leading to energy bill spikes. To prevent this, locate points of air leakage throughout your house, including around your windows, doors, roofing, and walls. Large insulation gaps can also cause heat loss through radiation. You can use weather stripping or caulk to seal these gaps for a warm and comfortable winter indoors without high energy costs. Other places you may want to check out include the:
- Electrical outlets
- HVAC units
- Light fixtures
- Insulation gaps
By ensuring an airtight indoor space, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your winter energy bills tremendously.
2. Keep Warm at Night with Blankets
No one wants to spend the whole night in bed freezing, which is why most people turn up the furnace or heater before bedtime. With a few heavy blankets and warm sleeping clothes, however, you can turn the thermostat a little lower when heading to bed. Simply having your thermostat between 10 and 15 degrees lower for the eight hours of sleep could earn you a good 10% of savings from your monthly power bill. Be sure to invest in quality heavy blankets and sleep clothes as winter approaches. When you’re not asleep but indoors, sweaters, socks, and other warm clothing will also help reduce the need for toasty thermostat settings.
3. Insulate the Windows
Compared to the walls in your home, windows have less insulation. This is why they tend to lose heat more during the colder months. Thankfully, adding a layer of insulation to your windows can help keep the precious heat inside, so you don’t have to spend more energy to keep your home warm. All you need to do is seal the window frames using plastic window film, preferably the clear type. The film can easily be installed and removed when winter is over.
4. Keep Vents and Doors Closed for Unused Rooms
Heating rooms that are rarely used can be a waste of energy and money. It pays to keep unused rooms closed so the hot air from your heated space doesn’t escape into these rooms. Consider keeping the vents to these rooms closed as they can rob your heated air as well.
5. Keep Your Heating Unit in Good Shape
As earlier mentioned, a problematic HVAC or heating unit can cause massive spikes in your heating energy bills. To ensure warmth and comfort in your home every cold season, it pays to consult an HVAC professional for regular inspection and tune-up services. If you are using a furnace to keep your home warm, they will also enlighten you on how to keep your furnace functioning properly throughout its lifetime. In addition, you will get expert advice on how to keep your heating bills low while extending the life of your heating unit.
Finally, electric space heaters can also help save money on heating bills. They are ideal when you only need to heat up a small space in your home for a short duration. These energy-efficient gadgets are a great and convenient way to stay warm in your home without spending much on heating. Hopefully, the few tips above will help you save a decent amount of money on indoor heating.
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