4 Tips for Keeping Your Home Cozy without Excessive Spending
During the long, cold winter, keeping you and your family warm and comfortable is one of your highest priorities. Receiving your utility bill and realizing just how much that comfort costs, though, may make that comfort seem a little less comfortable. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to keep your home nice and warm without having to break the bank.
Seal Windows against Drafts
If you live in a house with older windows, you likely notice all the cold air coming in every time the temperature dips below a certain level.
Even if the area around the window has been sealed with caulk, energy-inefficient glass still allows for a lot of air exchange.
To keep that cold air where it belongs, though, you can use a kit that includes double-sided tape and pre-cut plastic sheets to tightly seal your windows against winter drafts.
Just place the tape around the edge of the window, then adhere the plastic to the tape, and you’ve got a much more efficient window for only a few dollars.
Get Service
Often times, high heating bills are simply due to your heating system not working as efficiently as it could. Fans can get dusty, heating coils can get dirty, and gas valves can be incorrectly adjusted.
All that to say, having your heating system serviced is another great way to increase your comfort for a low cost.
It’s important to have all your HVAC system components regularly serviced anyway, to ensure they last as long as possible. When you’re a little chilly and on a tight budget, having your heating system serviced can make all the difference.
A well-maintained heating system will produce more consistently warm air and will keep your home warm while not working as hard. Don’t forget to schedule an HVAC service for your air conditioner once the weather turns warmer, too.
Space Heaters
Ultimately, space heaters are an inefficient way to heat an entire house, since electricity is the least-efficient fuel you can use to create heat.
However, if you only use one or two rooms in your home, space heaters can be a great way to provide plenty of localized heat while allowing you to keep your central heating system turned off.
A space heater can typically get you warmer faster, since it’s blowing right on you, usually at a higher temperature than a central heating system would be. Many space heaters can be purchased for a low cost, allowing you to gain some quick heating capacity for only a few dollars.
Bundle Up
For most people, the idea of having to bundle up in their own home isn’t appealing. If you’re really trying to save some money, though, bundling up is always an option.
Using your heating system minimally and allowing your own body heat to do the hard work instead can be a great way to save some money. This is an especially good option for households with varying temperature preferences because it can save money and allows those who like the cold to be a little more comfortable.
Heating your home is an inevitable winter expense, but one that doesn’t have to get out of control. Whether it’s maintenance, dressing warm, or even just acclimating to a slightly colder temperature, you can cut down on your heating costs and save your money for better things.
Category: Save Energy
