As temperatures start to drop, your heating bill may begin to rise. Your heater is one of the largest consumers of energy in your home. As such, any inefficiencies in your home’s heating setup can have a large impact on your monthly payments. To avoid paying more than you should to stay warm as the seasons change, take a look at these effective ways to reduce your heating bill.
Upgrade Your Home’s Insulation
One of the most effective ways to reduce your heating bill is to upgrade your home’s insulation. If your home isn’t properly insulated, any warm air that your heater produces will slowly—or quickly, depending on how poor your insulation is—seep out of your home. As such, your heater will be forced to work even harder to keep your home at a warm temperature.
You will likely see your heater’s hard work reflected on your heating bill, as your home’s energy consumption will greatly increase. By effectively sealing off any cracks in your home, you can keep warm air trapped inside and enjoy both increased comfort and lower monthly energy payments.
Rearrange Your Furniture
A completely free yet effective way to reduce your heating bill is to simply rearrange the furniture in your home. When planning the layout of your furniture, it is important not to block any radiators or heating vents. If the furniture is placed directly in front of heat sources, it will absorb the heat and prevent warm air from spreading throughout the room. As a result, you may find yourself cranking up the heat to keep your home at a comfortable temperature and, as a result, spend more money on your heating bill.
Invest in a More Efficient Heating System
While purchasing a new heating system requires a fairly large up-front investment, doing so could end up paying off in the long run. As previously stated, heating systems are one of the largest consumers of energy in a home. If a home’s heating system is inefficient, it could end up costing you a substantial amount of money on your monthly energy bills. To lower your heating bill, it can be highly beneficial to invest in a more energy-efficient system such as a ductless mini-split or Energy Star model.
Open Your Curtains...And Then Close Them
Yes, something as simple as opening and closing your curtains can actually save you money on your heating bill. During the day time, warmth from the sun can be used to help keep your home warm—especially if you have a lot of windows in your home. As such, you should consider pulling back your curtains and letting the sunlight in. During the night time, however, it is best to keep your curtains closed. Drawing your blinds will create another barrier between your home and the outside world which will help lock warmth inside while the sun is away.
