The cold season is already upon us and the harsh months of winter are just around the corner. Although these months are appealing for long walks and quiet soul searching, they can feel entirely different when home economics are involved. Heating bills will soon start to rise and your budget will definitely take the hit, unless you find ways to slash these costs. Thankfully, we’ve prepared a list of five ways that can help you save money on your winter heating bills:
1. Adjust Your Thermostat to a Lower Temperature Setting
You’d be surprised how great a difference it makes when you lower your thermostat temperature setting. Just because we have it in our homes, it doesn’t mean we need to blast the heat full on. Instead, we can use the thermostat in a smarter, more optimum way that can help us lower our heating bills. By wearing a thicker layer of clothing during the day, like a hoodie, fluffier socks and long pants, you can already lower your temperature setting by a few degrees, which in turn will help you pay less on your bills. Having said this, the very same principle applies to setting the room temperature at nighttime.2. Identify All Cracks and Leaks and Seal Them
Your home can lose about 10-25% heat due to cracked and inefficiently sealed windows. Apart from looking unaesthetic, these damaged windows can further increase your bills, so it’s best to seek out professional help as soon as possible. Window replacement needs to be carried out by an experienced company since certain types of glass can be pretty dangerous to remove. As an additional tip, you should keep your blinds and curtains shut at night to maintain the heat inside the house and vice versa during the day.3. Make Sure Your Air Vents and Radiators Are Kept Clear
Another important thing you should consider is to ensure there are no large objects in front of your radiator. By removing them, you allow for the heat to circulate freely and better reach the important areas of your room, where it is actually needed. In order to improve air circulation, you should also clean your ventilators and radiators to make sure there is no dust. This is something that will also feel like an added bonus to your health, since you’ll ultimately be able to breathe cleaner air. This is basically a quick fix that’s an all-around winner.
4. Insulate Your Attic Properly
If you own a house, you probably already know that an incorrectly insulated attic will do a world of damage to the temperature inside your home. Low temperatures have a way of quickly transferring to your main rooms in no time, unless you do something about your attic. Having said this, you should seal your main entrance to the attic with professional insulation materials or even old blankets - whatever you choose it will stop the heat from your home to senselessly dissipate through the attic and the cold to come downward to your living area. It’s a small act to be done for your home that will be done in a matter of minutes, but that will benefit you for months to come.5. Opt for a Space Heater
This is another useful tip for those of you looking to slash your heating bills during wintertime - get a space heater that you can use in just one room of the house. Let’s say you only use your study during the day and you don’t actually need your home to be extra warm the entire day. This is where a space heater comes in because it can be used locally and it’s typically very effective. However there is only one piece of advice here - you’ll need to be cautious with it around kids or flammable objects around the home.All in all, winter doesn’t always need to be so frightful as we imagine it to be. It’s true there may be some initial investment on your part to do the necessary adjustments, but you’ll reap the rewards in no time. If you pay close attention to the ways in which your home is losing heat and you start implementing the tips mentioned above, you’ll live to enjoy a winter that’s not only fairytale-like, but also very cost-efficient and easier to sustain financially than ever before.
