One thing that’s definitely on everyone’s mind is making ends meet and how to save up money. It’s no secret that planning helps you better prepare, so if you haven’t already, start thinking about how to cut down on energy costs in the coming winter.
You already know how to draught-proof your home and pack up your patio furniture to protect them from the harsh weather conditions. So here are some other pretty easy and efficient ways of cutting down heating costs during those cold, long, winter months.
- Curtain up
First up, invest in some curtains or drapes if you don’t already have enough. Though this might be some expense, especially if you don’t have them yet, they will pay off well when it’s cold. So, get some thick airtight curtains that will help with heat insulation.
Open them wide and let the (free) sun warm up the house. When the sun goes down, shut your curtains to keep the warmth in. If you don’t, all that hard work your curtains did will be wasted, and you’ll need to spend more on heating. Make sure that they fit well and go from ceiling to floor especially if you have a lot of windows.
- Be good to your feet
Rugs will not only keep your feet nice and warm, but they’ll also improve the overall aesthetic of your home. Instead of dreading the cold, hard floor every time you wake up, you could step into foot haven, literally.
Think of all the beautiful colors you could amp your style with and wake up to every morning. The great thing about this is it does not matter if the floors are tile, hardwood, or vinyl. Even if you already have a carpet, you can still top it with rugs for some extra warmth.
- Move your sofa away from the heat
You read that right and yes, it’s counterintuitive to do so. It may not sound right but think about it this way; if your sofa or bed is getting all the heat in the room, there won’t be much left to go around other parts of the space that need to be warmed.
So move your sofa, desk, bed, and any other piece of furniture in the room away from the heating so that the warmth can go around. It’s the same with clothing items. If your clothing is taking up all the heat, your room is not going to get enough and you’ll pay for it.
- Wrap up your tank
That’s right! The watchword is insulation. Showing your hot water tank some love with an insulation jacket could save you quite a bit; about 7% – 16% in water heating costs according to the US Energy Department and prevent 25% – 45% of standby heat from dissipating. If it’ll save money, then why not!
- Sort out your heating
There are a host of choices to choose from when it comes to heating options. There are gas, electric, and even ceramic options to choose from. One major factor, to consider when deciding on a heating option aside from cost, is maintenance. Gas heating requires a lower initial cost and might also seem cheaper to run simply because gas is cheaper.
But it also will require more in maintenance costs (there’s the possible bleeding if you want to DIY and maintenance cost if you’d rather have someone do it). An electric radiator, on the other hand, comes with no maintenance costs. They are safe, affordable, and are eco-friendly. You’ll be saving the planet too so go on and make the investment.
- Prep your chimney for the work
Your chimney is going to be working overtime for you. So, you should check up on your chimney and get it swept before the winter begins so that it’s in working order, keeping you warm and snuggly when it’s cold. Not only that, but it’ll also keep the smoke heading up and out, not inside to harm your nostrils. It’ll also reduce the risk of a chimney fire. Now you can look forward to those cozy fireplace winter moments we all love so much.
Bonus tip
Definitely double-check all carbon monoxide and smoke detectors or have one installed if you can’t DIY. Carbon monoxide poisoning is very dangerous and you could even die from it but the good news is it is easily preventable. You know what they say; better safe than sorry.
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