13 Feb Save 50% on Heating This Winter
2/13/2018
Is your heating bill stressing you out this winter? Save money on heating!
Heating your home in the winter can be expensive, and 42 percent of the average American’s utility bill is solely from heating costs.
As the weather gets cooler, don’t waste all of your money overworking your heating system. Most of these costs are due to wasted energy that can easily be prevented to cut costs.
Follow some of these simple tricks to save money on heating.
Prevent Heat Loss
Much of the heat produced by your heating system is lost through cracks, windows, doors, and the roof. This can be stopped by adding insulation to your home, or improving the quality of your home’s insulation.
This process can sometimes be expensive, but some easy, inexpensive fixes might be as simple as adding insulation to your attic access door, or using carpet to insulate tile, wood, or linoleum floors.
Another method is to add an insulator film to your windows. This film reflects heat back into your home and blocks any heat escaping through the glass of your windows. This film has proven to on heating costs.
Almost 25% of all heat is lost through air leaks in your doors and windows. You can reduce these leaks by replacing old weather strips on doors and windows, making sure windows are securely closed, and replacing old windows frames.
If there is a gap under your door, door seals can be a great help to stop warm air from leaking out. Taking the time to seal these small gaps alone can save you 10% on your heating bill.
Turn it Down at Night
At night or when you’re away from home, turn down your thermostat a few degrees. Turning the thermostat down even by one degree at night can save you 3% a month.
Programmable thermostats allow you to program an automatic temperature drop at night. Upgrading to a programmable thermostat will also save you money and reduce heating energy. Nest’s Learning Thermostat is expensive, but can program itself to shut off the air when you don’t need it, and use heat wisely. It has proven to reduce heating energy and reduce users’ heating bills by 10-12%.
Change the Air Filter
Another simple trick is to change your air filter regularly. A dirty, old filter forces your heating system to work harder than it needs to, and wastes unnecessary energy. Changing the filter every three to six months will save you 7% on your heating bill.
Reverse the Ceiling Fan
During the winter months, ceiling fans should be changed to spin clockwise. This may seem like an odd trick, but it can save you up to 8% on your bill. As hot air rises, the ceiling fan will blow hot air back down and prevent it from escaping through the ceiling.
Seal Air Ducts
Lastly, make sure that your air ducts are properly sealed, and up to code to prevent major heat loss. Insulating air ducts can increase savings by another 10%. If you’re not sure if your air ducts are properly sealed, Mathews Plumbing can help inspect them.
If you have any questions about other ways to save money on your heating bill, call Mathews Plumbing at 208-357-3439.