If you’re trying to cut costs this winter, your heating bills are a good place to start. You could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the total amount that you spend on heating costs, and you’ll still be able to keep your home toasty warm. You’ll need to take an inventory to determine which tips will help the most, but this list is a good place to start.
Insulate Everything
Insulation can be pretty expensive, but you can cut your costs for heating significantly if you can figure out where you’re losing the most heat. The attic is one place where a lot of heat is lost, especially if you don’t have enough insulation. You’ll be able to tell that you’re short on insulation if you see a lot of ice dams on your roof. Another good place to assess is the basement, which is where many houses lose heat because most aren’t insulated at all. You should also find out if there’s any insulation in your walls. Many builders do put the resources into insulating walls because it can really impact your heating bills. However, if your walls aren’t currently insulated, it can be a big and expensive job because you’ll have to take all of the current drywall off.
Get a Smart Thermostat
If you’ve wanted to have complete control over your thermostat even when you’re not home, a smart thermostat will help tremendously. You can set your smart thermostat to turn on and off according to your schedule. You can also turn your thermostat up or down when you’re away from your house through your smartphone or another device.
Turn Off the Heat When You Don’t Need It
There are a couple of times when you don’t need your house to be as warm as you normally will want it, like when you’re sleeping or when you’re out for the day. You can turn down the heat to the low 60s and save a lot of money during these time frames of approximately eight hours.
Use a Humidifier
When you’re looking for a way to make the air feel warmer without actually adding more heat to the house, running a humidifier is an easy and cost-effective means. Humid air isn’t just better for your skin and nasal passageways; it also makes heat leave your body less quickly because the moisture on your skin, which pulls heat away from your body, can’t evaporate as quickly. As a result, you’ll feel warmer.
Use the Ceiling Fan
Most people think that ceiling fans exist only for the summer when you want a breeze, but ceiling fans can also be a great addition in the winter. Heat collects near the ceiling because it rises, so you can make the room a much more comfortable temperature simply by turning on the ceiling fan. You have to be aware of which direction you have the blades turning, however. If it’s summertime, you want to create a downdraft by having the blades spin counterclockwise. In the winter, you want the blades to spin clockwise so that they create a breeze that travels up. This will allow the heated air above the blades to bounce off the ceiling, and it will be pushed down into an area of the room where you can enjoy it.
Move Around the Furniture
You’ve probably been told to think about traffic flow and the way that furniture looks together when you’re arranging it in a room, but you might not be thinking about airflow. When you’re arranging your furniture, you need to be aware of where the vents are so that you’re not blocking them. Tall bookcases are one type of furniture that often blocks vents that are close to the ceiling. Couches, beds, and other types of furniture can block basically any vent near or on the floor. When you do this, the furnace has to work harder to push the air through, and you might even have some cold rooms if the vent is significantly blocked.
When you’re looking for ways to make your home warm without breaking the budget, contact Coffman & Company in Denver, CO. We’ve been taking care of heating and air conditioning systems for years, and we’d be happy to help you find ways to save on your heating bills this winter. Our team can assist with repair, installation, and maintenance.
