Heating bills are one of the few homeowner issues where there are a good number of remedies available to help keep the prices down. This can be done via proper insulation, purchasing new, more efficient windows, and taking advantage of natural heat and sunlight. Not only will this heat your home more thoroughly, but you will see the energy bills drop in price as well.
“At home, when the heating pipes made noises, I imagined a tiny person was in there skipping with a rope. The fantasy world of tiny things became my escape.” - Willard Wigan
Insulation
Insulating your home properly can yield huge energy savings for your home. This can involve weather stripping around doors, caulking around windows, and filling in the attic with batts. Other ways to make sure your home is properly insulated include:
- Spray foam
- Foam board
- Loose-fill or blown-in
- Radiant floor heating
- Rigid fiber
- Weatherstripping
- Caulking
Utilize Solar Energy
Making the best out of natural sunlight can prove beneficial to both your home’s energy bills and the curb appeal of your house. The simple act of opening curtains during the day to allow sunlight into your house and then keeping them closed at night can help trap the heat in your home. Furthermore, solar energy can certainly help you with your electric bills as well, as solar paneling can be converted into energy.
For example:
Solar panels work with the electric company to establish a base credit system for your home. This means that you quite literally see the money you’re saving from the panels on your bill. Depending on the company you might even make out with a profit.
Keep Ductwork in Fair Order
Many home HVAC units are almost as old as the home itself. In these cases, be sure you have properly fitted ductwork. Look for places that may have pulled away from the original frame, usually at the seams and corners.
There’s more:
According to Energy Star, nearly 20% up to 30% of forced air units lose said air as it’s being pushed through the vents due to holes, cracks, and other openings. This means that keeping your ducts together can improve the heating energy costs at home. Otherwise air duct cleaning can also save you money.
Heating Fuel
The type of fuel your heating system uses also has a rather profound impact. The average cost to heat a home with natural gas is significantly less than heating with oil, propane, or electric. Natural gas costs nearly half of the price of its counterparts.
Programmable Thermostat
It’s amazing when little devices make gigantic differences. The simple act of investing in a programmable thermostat can save between 7% - 10% in your total heating bills.
Additionally if you sense that there may be a leak in your home’s insulation you can use a candle to search out for breezes. Just hold it up to where you suspect a draft is and if it flickers, you were correct.
Tips and Tricks
As with most homeowner duties, there are always “life hacks” when it comes to your house. There are many different ways to save on heating and cooling costs. Here are just a few of the different cost-saving strategies you can use:
- Use ceiling fans
- Change out old light bulbs for energy-efficient ones
- Buy new, energy-efficient windows
- Only heat rooms you use
- Use a humidifier
- Wear layers instead of cranking the heat
- Change your filters
- Get a home energy audit
- Spray insulation around electrical sockets
- Get a portable heater
Ready to lower your heating costs? Request a free quote today for any heating service!
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