Winter is coming, which means hot drinks, holiday movies, and lots of time spent inside. But for millions of Americans, it also means expensive heating bills. Sound familiar?
Save Money With These 5 tips
If you’re trying to save money and cut back on your expenses, your heating bill is something you’ll need to pay attention to during the winter months. If you aren’t careful, you could end up with a surprise bill that really sinks your budget.
The good news is there are plenty of ways to save on your heating bill, so long as you’re willing to get creative and take proactive steps to reducing your energy consumption. Here are a few tips:
1. Let the Sunlight In
“That bright orb in the sky should be the focus of temperature control in your residence throughout the year,” Niccole Schreck writes for U.S News. “Open curtains on your south-facing windows during winter days to bring free heat into your home. Close your window coverings when the sun goes down to keep the heat inside.”
This is a pretty obvious tip that people often overlook. The key is to remember to close the curtains after sunset. Leaving them open at night will defeat the purpose of keeping the coverings open during the day.
2. Fix Your Chimney
A fireplace can serve as a really cost-effective source of heat for your home, but it can also work against you when not in use.
“Did you know you could be letting precious heat escape from your chimney? Yes, it’s true! Cap the top, or use an inflatable chimney balloon if you use your fireplace more regularly,” McCombs Supply advises. “Better yet, look into The Fireplace Heatsaver a transparent shield made of acrylic so you can enjoy your fire and still save heat.”
3. Use Space Heaters
There’s no sense in heating your entire house when you only use a handful of rooms. This is especially true if you work from home and spend 8 to 10 hours per day in your home office.
A space heater is a fantastic investment. Not only will you love the feeling of direct heat, but it’s a cost-effective way to only heat the space you’re in. (Just make sure you close off doors to retain as much heat as possible.)
4. Seal Off Windows
Windows are notorious culprits for heat loss. Not only does heat escape through little tiny cracks and gaps around windows, but it also gets transferred through the windowpanes. To mitigate some of this heat loss, think about applying some bubble wrap to the windows. If you’re thrifty, you might even be able to find some old bubble wrap from packages that have been shipped to you. It might not look great, but it’ll save you some money.
5. Lower the Thermostat at Night
One of smartest actions you can take is to lower your thermostat when you go to bed each night. According to research, you can save roughly 3 percent on your heating bill for every degree you set your thermostat back. That means you could save 15 percent on your heating bill by setting the thermostat back just 5 degrees. That might sound like a huge sacrifice, but if you dress appropriately and invest in a quality down comforter, you won’t even notice.
Stop Paying More Than You Have To
There’s no sense in paying more than you have to on your heating bill during the winter. While you probably don’t want to cut the heat off and bundle up in ski jackets, you can implement a few of the smart tips in this article and save a little bit of money.
