‘Tis the season to be jolly, or not? The drop in temperature this winter does not only signify the start of Christmas season as it also means a rise in electric bills. Heating your home contributes to more than 40% of your utility bill. With this, it is considered as one of the most significant utility expenses homeowners have to deal with every month.
If you want to understand the significant factors affecting your heating costs, continue reading.
Learn how you lessen your heating expenses with these 6 hacks!
1. Set the Temperature Lower
When you’re out for errands or sleeping, you can lower your set temperature to 10-15 degrees. The US Department of Energy recommends you keep this setting for 8 hours to save at least 10% on your heating costs.
2. Buy Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are convenient for homeowners who are always on the go! These allow you to control the temperature settings from your smartphone when you’re not home.
Households are expected to save around 10% to 12% on their heating costs, and 15% on their cooling costs. With smart thermostats, you’ll be able to understand your energy consumption patterns through the tracking feature. They are not only easy to install but they also take the hassle out of scheduling HVAC usage.
3. Let the Heat In
Maximize the sun’s heat by opening your curtains or blinds. Open them in the morning to let the sunlight in, and close them in the evening to avoid heat from escaping.
4. Explore Other Warming Hacks
The Christmas winds breezing through gives homeowners an excuse to style their home with cozy blankets and fluffy throw pillows. Moreover, investing in insulated rugs and curtains can help you stay warm and prevent the floor from getting cold.
Another simple but effective hack you could do is to put aluminum foil on your radiator. This will trap the heat and reflect it back into the room.
5. Utilize Usage of Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans also play a vital part in decreasing heating expenses. In fact, most ceiling fans have the option to run in reverse which helps in pulling any warm air. With this, homeowners can set their fans to the lowest setting as this will force the warm air to go down and circulate around the home.
