Come winter, and your home heating costs begin to soar. A sound budget can help you manage your money, but these tips will help you save on your heating bill this winter.
1. Turn Down the Heat
You can opt for a simple way to bring down your heating bills by lowering the heat range from say 70 to 60 degree F. Bundle yourself in scarfs, sweater, and mittens. You save 5% on heating bills for every degree saved by lowering the thermostat.
2. Install a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats provide automatic time and temperature control. They are available at a starting price of $25 to $30, which makes them affordable and useful to reduce the heating bill. The main advantage of these devices is that you can program a thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature to a level you want during your sleeping hours.
Set it at a lower temperature when you are away from home. But you need to take care that you do not adjust it to such a low level that the pipes freeze. You can easily bring down your heating bills by about 10% by reducing the temperature by 7 to 10 degree F when you are not at home.
3. Seal Leaky Doors and Windows
Most houses are not heat-loss or draft proof as there are gaps in doors, windows all over the house. During wintertime, you realize the importance of plugging all the gaps because they account for an estimated 7 to 12 percent of heat loss. However, it is very easy to find sealing solutions.
Hardware store shelves overflow with products used to seal your home against drafts. Tightly seal your doors and windows by applying weather stripping (a sticky rubber, foam or vinyl insulation). Check the gaps at the bottom of exterior doors. If you see the light entering, install a door sweep to prevent gusty winds in winter.
4. Draw the Curtains
Just as curtains serve a decorative purpose, they are useful to enhance the efficiency of the heating system in your house. Before weather stripping and storm windows became the norm, people used thick, floor to ceiling curtains to reduce heat loss and protect indoor areas from drafts.
Even low-budget, thin curtains help to add to the efficiency of the heating system. You can take advantage of the sunlight by keeping south-facing windows open and shutting them at night during winter. Keep the rest of the windows shut so that no cold air enters the rooms. This helps curtail heat loss by almost 10 percent.
5. Seal Cracks around All the Pipes
You lose a lot of heat even when there are seemingly minute cracks, in different places in your house. These gaps allow cold air to circulate in the indoor areas of your home. Inspect doors, windows, and pipes for cracks. Do the same checks for walls, floors, ceilings and basement, and attic areas. A tube of caulk, silicone, or spray foam insulation will work wonders. Just a few dollars and a few hours on the weekend are all it takes to keep your house warmer during wintertime.
Other Things to Do
Reduce the temperature of the water heater and insulate it with good quality fitted cover. Make sure you insulate your attic door and get your HVAC system inspected and serviced before the winter sets in. If you have ceiling fans, set them to the reverse direction. This helps to push the warmer air down from your ceiling.
By following these steps, you can significantly reduce your heating bill this winter. If you need urgent cash for home improvements before wintertime, visit 24Cash.ca for information on easy loan options.
