Heating your home in the winter can be very expensive. There are different ways to cut back on how much you spend, but it will take some effort and discipline. This article provides some convenient tips to help mums to save money on heating their homes this winter.
1. Cover your water heater
Covering your water heater is a simple yet great way to help it run efficiently! Covering exposed hot water heaters will reduce the water temperature by approximately 20 degrees, which in turn helps decrease your monthly energy bill. It also makes your hot water last longer than before since it doesn’t get lost in surrounding areas that are not being used!
Even if you live in regions with mild winters, this is energy-saving tip still comes in handy. As a comparative example, Georgia has the highest average natural gas rates among its closest Deep South neighbour states (Alabama and Mississippi), according to 2021 gas price statistics from the American Automobile Association (AAA). Of course, energy savings means cost savings as well, since you can manage your bills better despite fluctuating natural gas rates in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and other states with mild winters. A simple shower curtain works well for most hot water heaters, but if your hot water heater is located in a storage room or some other type of space, then you may need to invest in an insulated cover.
Covering your water heater helps decrease energy costs by 20°F and makes hot water last longer because it doesn’t get lost in the surrounding areas. Shower curtains do well for most types of hot-water heaters. If the heater is located in a storage area or some other place, insulation is needed.
2. Lower your water heater temperature
In addition to covering your water heater, lowering the temperature on your water heater will help lower your heating bill too! With older models of water heaters, keeping it at around 120 degrees can cut your gas bill by up to 10 per cent. The newer ones only need to be set at 130 degrees or higher because they get so much hotter than before.
Lowering the temperature on your water heater can save up to 10% of heating costs. Most newer models do not need water set above 130º F because they get so much hotter than older models.
3. Invest In Better Appliances
Do a little research and see what kind of heating elements could fit your home and improve efficiency. The right appliance could save up to 30% on your energy bill. For instance, lots of people are planning to buy a pellet stove pipe this year as these are great for heating large areas without taking up too much space. Figuring out what your home needs can be the difference between a comfortable, warm winter and a costly one. Investing in better appliances that suit your home can help save up to 30% on your energy bill. Consider buying a pellet stove pipe if you need to heat large areas without taking up too much space. Doing research and finding out what your house requires for efficient heating is essential to have a comfortable, warm winter without breaking the bank.
4. Close your curtains at night
During summertime, you keep cool air in with closed curtains while keeping heat out by closing them at night. During winter, you just need to apply the reverse concept of this insulation to stay warm and cozy with less effort. Close your curtains at nighttime when you are not using any lights in order to keep conditioned air inside and stop heat from escaping through the windows. The sun will naturally heat up space during the day, but that is wasted energy if you are trying to stay warm at night! Shut off the lights in rooms where no one will be sleeping or watching TV, and close all of your curtains to retain heat for free! Improving your home’s natural heating and insulation reduces the strain on your HVAC system and your pockets too.
5. Raise your thermostat a couple of degrees
Many homeowners would think of lowering the thermostat temperature during winter months, but raising the temperature even a couple of degrees can make a huge difference on your heating bill! It may seem like it’s too insignificant to make a difference, but you’d be surprised! Set your thermostat at 68 degrees when you are home and at 55-60 degrees when you aren’t there. Raising your thermostat by just 3 or 4 degrees can save up to 10 per cent of heating costs. You also save more money if you raise the temperature 5 or 6 degrees than if you raise it one degree since most furnaces do not have to work as hard.
Raising the temperature a few degrees can make a big difference in heating costs. Set at 68 degrees when you are home and 55-60 when you aren’t there. You save more if you raise it by 5 or 6 instead of one because furnaces don’t have to work as hard.
6. Insulate your doors and windows
If you feel the cold air coming in through any window or door, then you probably need to insulate them. By stopping the flow of cold air by adding weather stripping around the edge of exterior doors and putting bubble wrap over drafty windows, not much will be lost when keeping out unwanted winter drafts. The older houses usually do not have double-hung windows with weather strips either. There are also other ways to insulate a door that does not include buying a kit for it. Insulating your doors can be done by using bubble wrap and towels at the bottom of the door under the threshold.
Adding insulation around doors and windows will keep cold air from seeping in, so much energy is saved when keeping warm inside becomes less difficult!
Lots of people dread winter, but there are a number of things you can do to help save money and reduce the amount of time spent heating your home this winter! Most of these tips are great for any family, not just mums! It is important to take proactive steps in order to save money, however small they may seem. Good luck, and enjoy the winter!
