Winter is around the corner. After Halloween, the dark cold nights are normal, the heating goes on – all over the house – and we begin to hibernate. At this time of year, you will also notice a spike in your energy bills. Why? Because you are using more gas and electricity than any other time of the year.
To avoid such a spike in your heating bill, be proactive. These tips in today’s post offer very simple measures you can take that will ensure you stay warm in your home but pay less.
Seal Your Chimney
Does your home have a chimney? If so you could be losing a lot of heat in the winter and paying too much on your electricity bill. How so?
A fireplace is an excellent feature, you can burn logs on it and roast chestnuts, but if you don’t properly close the flue when it’s off, it’s the same as having an open window.
To avoid this make sure it’s well sealed when the fire isn’t lit. You can order a seal for your flue online depending on what kind of chimney you have. But, please remember to take it off when lighting your fire.
When doing this, don’t forget to make sure your roof is also in order. In fact, Projects 4 Roofing Blog published an article on why you should keep your roof warm. Be sure to check it out for additional tips.
Use Fans for Extra Heat
In general, heating a room is a very inefficient process. This is because of the rules of thermodynamics. When air molecules are heated, they begin to rise, which means that the best heat in your room is located at the top where no-one can benefit from it.
It might seem counterintuitive, but using a fan in the winter can solve this issue and create more energy efficiency in your home.
If you have never heard of this, you may want to consider it now.
Set the fans to low and place them in the corner. The converted air will circle down from the ceiling and mix with the colder air below, creating a warmer room.
Make the Most of Radiators
Radiators are an excellent heat source in the home and the primary heat source for most people, but they can be inefficient if not used correctly. They could be costing you more money than you need to spend and producing less heat than you expect.
Therefore, you want to ensure your room is well insulated. To do this, use door cushions for the base of the doors and heavy curtains to prevent heat loss through the windows.
Next, turn the radiators off in rooms where you aren’t using them and ensure no obstacles are obstructing the live one. This will make your radiators more efficient.
Download the free Secret Santa Questionnaire here!
Insulate
It’s not all about creating heat in your home; it’s also about trading that heat for as long as possible. Too many people ignore the importance of insulation in favor of burning more fuel, but this is a waste and will cost you money.
With this in mind, make sure that your home is effectively insulated. Many new build homes are made with excellent insulation, but older ones will require extra measures.
Ideas include installing triple glazing, using heavy curtains, and blocking off any air holes to prevent losses.
In addition to this, I personally just picked up several items from Dollar Tree to insulate our house such as the Weatherstrip Seal and the Door Insulation Kit, both by Tool Bench. Each kit helps to reduce energy costs. I’ll be posting more about this soon.
In the meantime, to find out more about insulation, click here.
Utilize Windows
You might not think it, but windows can be extremely important when it comes to heating your home effectively. Again, consider the Dollar Tree insulation kits for one dollar.
Around 25% of all heat in the home is lost through the windows, so it’s important to take measures to prevent this heat loss and use them wisely.
Ideas to insulate your windows are very similar to what was mentioned with insulating doors. Consider installing double or triple glazing if you can. If that’s not possible, use heavy curtains.
If your windows are south-facing, then you’re in luck. It may be possible for you to open them up to the sunlight during the day and trap the heat in a well-insulated room.
You may enjoy the review of the QuietHeat 15 Space Heater that we took cabin camping.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your home warm this winter can be done affordably by being proactive. Assess your house now for where you need to make changes.
Make a list of windows, doors, fireplaces, etc. that you will need to insulate and shop for what you need. If this is a job that you don’t want to handle yourself, hire someone to do the work.
Remember, you’ll be saving more in the long haul on your electricity bill.
