If you will be entertaining guests this Christmas, then a warm, cozy home is essential. Keeping your central heating turned on all winter can work out extremely expensive, so it is important to find ways to reduce your heating bill. Even making a few small changes can add up to a substantial amount over time. The following energy saving tips will help you knock a few dollars off your heating bill and raise the temperature inside your home.
Insulation
Adequate home insulation is an absolute must, and you will start to reap the benefits almost immediately. Ideally, your home should be insulated from the foundation all the way up to the attic. The type of insulation you use will depend on what material your home is made from and the climate you live in. If you cannot afford professional home insulation, then simply adding a layer of fabric over your walls and windows will help to trap a layer of insulating air.
Service Your Heating System
Regular care and maintenance of your home heating system is important for both your wallet and your health. Heating ducts can house mold and bacteria that is distributed throughout your home every time you turn on your heating or air conditioning. A certified heating and cooling technician can perform a thorough service on your system and will replace any faulty or broken components.
Draught-Proof Your Doors and Windows
Draught-proofing your home is a simple and cost-effective way to stop heat escaping through doors and window cracks. Many home improvement stores sell DIY draught-proofing kits that you can install yourself or you can hire a professional to do the job. As well as doors and windows, be sure to insulate around pipes, baseboards, mail slots, keyholes and attic doors.
Switch Your Energy Supplier
Switching your energy supplier may help you save money on your heating bill and enable you to turn the thermostat up during the chilly months. Whether or not you are able to change your energy supplier will depend on whether your power is supplied by a cooperative, municipality or investor-owned utility. If you are able to switch, perform some research on the energy tariffs offered by your local suppliers to see if you could be getting a better deal.
Draw the Curtains
It may sound too good to be true, but a simple act such as drawing the curtains at night could warm your home and save you money at the same time. Closing the curtains will reduce heat loss from the room by as much as 17%, and using heavy insulated curtains could increase that figure even further. Placing a thick curtain over your front and back door will also help to trap heat inside the home.
If you spend a large portion of the day in only one room such as the living area or den, then consider heating only that room instead of switching on the central heating. Small space heaters can warm a room within seconds and energy efficient models are often far more economical than a central system.