Every winter, many homeowners spend hundreds of dollars keeping their homes cozy and warm. Thankfully, there are many affordable ways to lower heating costs and stay comfortable without replacing your furnace or cranking up the heat. Here are some of the best ways to lower your spending this winter.
Open Up the Drapes
If the sun shines in on one side of your home in the morning or afternoon, open the curtains to let the warmth in. The radiant warmth from the sun coming through your windows will help to gently heat the space and help lower your daytime heating costs. Close your curtains once the sun goes down to insulate the windows.
Layer Your Clothes and Lower the Thermostat
One of the easiest ways to save on heating costs that is completely free is layering up when you’re at home. Lowering your thermostat by just a couple of degrees can shave up to 3% off of your energy bill, so stay comfortable by bundling up.
While it’s beneficial to lower your thermostat to the mid-60s, don’t let it fall too low to prevent frozen pipes.
Use a Space Heater to Lower Heating Costs
While you might be spending more time at home during the winter, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending more time in every room of your home. A space heater is a great way to keep a single room comfortable if you spend most of the day in your home office.
Space heaters today are designed to help lower heating costs through energy-efficient operation, and they also come with built-in safety features.
Clear Space in Front of Your Vents
Are you preventing heat from properly flowing into your home? Take a walk around your house and check that the area in front of each vent and radiator in your house is free from furniture, décor, and other obstacles. Many people waste money on heating costs every year due to accidentally having a couch covering a vent or holiday décor preventing heat from escaping.
Change Your Furnace Filters On Time to Lower Heating Costs
When your furnace filters are dirty and clogged with dust and debris, the heater will need to work harder to heat your home. This will lead to an increase in your heating costs. If you are using your furnace regularly in the winter, have indoor allergies, or have pets, change your furnace filter once a month to allow for optimal operation and airflow.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are a great way to save money all year long, whether you’re heating your home in the winter or cooling it in the summer. These thermostats will automatically adjust the temperature in your home depending on how you program it, so it can get cooler at night or during the day when you are at the office.
Redtail Building Services serves Southeastern Virginia with home inspection services. Contact us to schedule an appointment.