Cooling and heating your home can be the most expensive parts of your utility bill – that’s especially true if you live in a place with extreme shifts in temperature. Fortunately, there are a few adjustments that you can make to lower your heating bill, especially during the winter season. Here are just five of the things you can do to lower your heating bill this winter:
Take advantage of the sun
The sun can actually give you free heat, which reduces the need to use your electric heater at certain parts of the year.
To take advantage of the free heat offered by the sun, open the curtains on your windows during the day. Make it a point to close the window covers once the sun goes down, though, so the generated heat will remain inside.
Schedule a regular cleaning and maintenance for your furnace or heat pump
Regular cleaning and maintenance is the key to increasing the system’s efficiency. Make sure that your heat pump or furnace continues to run at peak performance by hiring a professional to inspect, clean, and tune it up once every year.
Also, make it a point to change the filter of your heat pump or furnace every thirty days. Note that a dirty filter can make the appliance work extra hard, causing a huge increase in your heating bill. To prevent that, set a cleaning schedule for the filter and make sure to stick to that.
Insulate your roof
This tip is one of the most cost-effective solutions in preventing heat from escaping your home and the cold air from penetrating inside. It works like a winter hat for your household.
What you can do is to ensure that your attic’s insulation is in excellent condition. You can also add a radiant barrier beneath it for additional protection.
Invest in a programmable thermostat
While you have to shell out around $30 to $100 for a thermostat, don’t worry as it will pay for itself as it helps lower your heating bill.
With a programmable thermostat, it’s possible to adjust the heat based on a predetermined schedule, allowing you to lower the heat in case you’re sleeping or not at home.
Replace torn and worn weather-stripping
Note that torn and worn weather-stripping surrounding your windows and doors might create gaps and that can cause cold air to penetrate inside, prompting you to turn your furnace up to keep warm. With that in mind, make it a point to replace worn weather-stripping every few years or so.
Aside from the tips above, scheduling an energy audit can also help. The good news is that several utility companies offer this service for a small fee or for free.
With this scheduled energy audit, you’ll know exactly the specific areas where you can improve to reduce your heating bill and boost your home’s energy-efficiency.
