13 Ways You Can Save on Heating

We all want comfortable temperatures in our homes throughout the winter, but heating your home all season long can be expensive. However, there are steps you can take to save on your heating bill without sacrificing your comfort and warmth.  

Here are seven ways to save on your heating bill:

1. Check Thermostat Settings
   By far, the most significant thing you are heating in your home is all the space. Reducing the heat setting on your thermostat by 1 degree can result in a 1-3% savings on your bill. However, a 7 to 10-degree drop will save you the most money. You can achieve this by using a programmable thermostat to turn down the heat when you are not at home or overnight while you are sleeping.
   
2. Lower Water Heater Temperature
   The second-largest household item raising your heating bill is the hot water heater. Lowering its temperature settings can save you money because your heater won’t have to work as hard to reach the desired temperature. Additionally, less heat will be lost while in storage in the tank.
3. Locate Any Drafts
   Holes or gaps throughout your home’s foundation can allow cold air to seep in, resulting in drafts. To locate drafts throughout the house, you should pay attention to the airflow around your windows and doors and weather stripping that’s falling apart. Be sure to check your light fixtures, outlets, and switches, too. Additionally, you can look at cable lines and dryer vents. You should inspect any location in the home where there is an exit to the outdoors.
4. Let the Sunshine In
   Opening the blinds and curtains during the day lets sunshine enter your home. This simple task can help heat the room due to the direct sunlight. Just be sure to close the curtains and blinds before the sun goes down and the temperatures drop.
5. Use Ceiling Fans
   Heat rises, so warmer air may be collecting at your ceiling, which isn’t doing you or your heating bill any good. A ceiling fan can send the warmer air back down into the room. To do this successfully, you need a ceiling fan whose blades can change direction. Typically, fans rotate in a counterclockwise direction in the summer, but you want them to turn clockwise in the winter.
6. Add Insulation
   Your home’s insulation plays a large role in how well your home is heated. If your insulation isn’t up to par, replacing it can be a big undertaking. However, adding additional insulation, rather than replacing it, can help keep heat from escaping through the attic. Addressing insulation problems can save you money on heating in the long run.
7. Change Filters
   Can changing your filters really save you money? It sure can. A dirty filter means your system has to work harder to circulate air. Changing your air filter keeps the airflow moving through your system, which means it’s working less and saving you more.
8. Bundle Up
   Wearing a sweater or a pair of wool socks while indoors can increase your tolerance for a cooler thermostat setting. The same goes for curling up under a blanket while your watching TV or reading a book. Throwing an extra blanket on your bed can also allow you to turn down your thermostat at night while still staying toasty warm.
9. Close off Unused Rooms
   If you have a larger home with extra rooms or spaces that you hardly ever use in the winter, there is no reason to fully heat them.  Keep their doors closed and shut any heating vents to the area to prevent the warm air from entering the room.  However, do not let these rooms get too cold as it can damage any water pipes in the walls. Check to make sure the area doesn’t drop below 40F degrees to prevent freezing pipes.
10. Ensure Your Ducts are Sealed
    Air duct joints tend to leak, allowing heat to escape and lowering overall warm air delivery to where you want it. You can use foil tape or mastic sealant to prevent any air leaks and heat loss.
11. Rearrange Your Furniture
    To ensure that the hot air flows well in your room, make sure you don’t have a bookcase, couch, bed or other piece of furniture blocking the air vent. Another option is to arrange the furniture in a such a matter that places your favorite chair or your bed near to the air vent.
12. Use a Space Heater
    Sometimes a particular room or space is always cooler than others and you have to super heat the rest of the house, just for that one room to reach a comfortable level. A more economical solution to save on your energy bill, is to supplement your HVAC system with a space heater, allowing you to keep the rest of the house at a normal temperature.
13. Replace Your HVAC System
    If you have an older system, it is going to less efficient. Sometimes the best thing to replace it with a high energy efficient model, saving you money in the long run on your heating bill.

Take Care of Your Heating Needs
Heating is essential during the winter to keep you comfortable and warm, but it can also be expensive. Your thermostat settings, hot water heater, insulation, and drafts can all have a significant impact on your energy costs. However, even the smallest change can help you save money on your heating bill. Make sure your heater is well-maintained and functioning properly, so you’re not unknowingly increasing your bill.   

Call 215.799.2019 or fill out the contact form on the bottom of this page. We can answer any of your questions and help you start saving on heating costs.