Staying warm and comfortable during winter does not need to be expensive. Many homeowners approach the winter months worried about how to afford their energy bill as they cannot accommodate an increase in their already strained budget.
While you should expect your energy bill to increase due to heating, there are ways to keep this spike to a minimum. Here is some advice from leading experts about making some changes, which may include simple swaps or a more substantial investment:
Rethink heating
Many households that rely on gas-powered heating feel the pinch during winter as prices fluctuate due to a volatile oil market. While there is a chance that rates will decrease if the oil price drops, the overwhelming probability is that prices will rise. Therefore, converting to an electric system could be an immediate cost-saver. Consider installing modern slim electric radiators from BestElectricRadiators, Elnur Ecombi, or Herschel Select. BestElectricRadiators has a wide range of radiator products that do not take up valuable room space while still offering effective heating. Its radiators are energy-efficient, providing maximum heating while using minimal electricity, already a cost-saving measure that most homeowners will appreciate.
Making a radical change to your heating system will require a significant investment, as new equipment is necessary. However, long-term savings are a financial reward that more than outweighs the initial expense. Shop for electric radiators as prices vary from one retailer to another, and remember to factor any professional installation fees into your budget. Get solid advice on which products will heat your house efficiently. It might be tempting to choose a smaller radiator as it costs less but will it heat an entire room? Each radiator size has a maximum room area it can cover, and larger rooms require bigger radiators.
Heating system maintenance
Regular equipment inspections and maintenance are imperative for those people relying on gas furnaces or HVAC systems. The best approach is to schedule an annual appointment with your heating company during the fall. Technicians do a thorough inspection of the equipment to ensure it is functioning optimally. Any basic maintenance issues caused by wear and tear receive attention, preventing them from becoming larger issues later that require more money to repair.
Proactive heating management means that your system works once the first cold front hits, ensuring that you do not spend more money on utilities because the equipment is faulty or not working. Do not wait until winter arrives to test drive your heating system only to discover something is wrong as heating companies are fully booked, and it might take some time to schedule a service call.
Insulation
Trapping warm air indoors and preventing cold air from entering the home from the outside is vital to keep your heating bill down to a minimum. Too much air movement between the house’s interior and exterior places an additional demand on your heating system to maintain a consistent indoor temperature. Effective insulation could prevent this from occurring.
Insulation in a house’s roof and drywalling can provide significant energy savings. A professional installer can save you hundreds of dollars in energy bills whenever you use your heating or cooling system. There are additional DIY jobs you can do to insulate your house. Start by ensuring that doors and windows seal tightly. Seal any cracks around them using weatherstripping tape or have a contractor replace the caulking. Roof cracks can lead to leakages and act as conduits for cold air to seep into a house. Glass is not a great heat conductor, and homeowners should use this to their advantage by leaving curtains and drapes over on sunny days to allow heat to enter their home. However, close the curtains and drapes at night to prevent hot air from escaping through the glass.
Thermostat settings
Householders do not need to turn their thermostat so high that the house becomes uncomfortably warm, and they wear summer clothes inside. Turning it down a few degrees makes a substantial difference in energy consumption, thereby reducing your heating bill.
Homeowners who utilize thermostat timers also find their heating costs reducing. You can set timers to reduce the temperature at night and while no one is home and increase it when more heat is required, such as first thing in the morning and evening.
