Home heating bills are typically some of the biggest utility expenses for homeowners, so it makes sense to try to find ways to keep these costs down.
While there are many ways to cut back on your energy use during the winter months, here are a few simple changes that can help you save money this year.
Heating your home during the winter can be expensive, especially if you’re not sure how to save money on your heating bills.
Most people don’t know how to save money on their heating bills, which can lead to them paying more than they need to.
Texan Residential Services is here to help. We provide tips and advice on how to save money on your heating bills, as well as a free energy audit that will help you find ways to reduce your energy consumption and save even more money.
Here are some guides to help you Save Money on Heating Bills This Winter:
1. Change your furnace filter
Furnace filters play a big role in whether or not your heater is able to work efficiently.
Getting the wrong sized filters can severely decrease the efficiency of your heating system and increase the amount of money you spend on energy costs over the winter.
When your filter becomes clogged and full of dust and dirt, it takes longer for heat to reach the air inside your home. A dirty filter can also cause breakdowns within your heater that will cost you money to fix.
It’s a good idea to inspect and replace furnace filters at least once a month throughout the winter season. It is especially important to do this more frequently if you have pets or anyone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma.
Texan Residential Services recommends changing your furnace filters every two months throughout the winter for maximum efficiency benefits.
By getting on a schedule for changing out your filters, you’ll save a significant amount of money over time as well as cut down on needed repairs by keeping your furnace and heating system in good shape.
2. Have your heater and chimney inspected and serviced before winter begins
One of the best ways to save money on heating bills is to reduce or eliminate breakdowns that will send you back to square one when it comes to paying for heat throughout the winter season.
Heating equipment often breaks down just as easily as furnaces become clogged with dirt and grime, so regular maintenance checks are important all year round.
During a furnace service appointment, we will inspect your entire system from top to bottom, including all safety controls and other components that play an active role in ensuring efficient operation during the winter months. We’ll also look for any leaks and other problems and let you know what you can do to help keep your furnace in good shape.
Texan Residential Services recommends getting your heating systems and chimneys professionally inspected and serviced before winter begins, as well as having an annual maintenance plan set up for continued savings over the course of the year. This will help reduce the risk of breakdowns or other types of problems that could lead to a sudden spike in energy costs.
3. Use efficient space heaters strategically
Space heaters offer a more efficient way to stay warm on those cold days when you’d rather not have to turn on your central heating system at all. They’re also great for supplementing a heater that’s having a difficult time keeping up with colder temperatures outside, especially if there are rooms where it is harder for the air to circulate.
While space heaters are more efficient than other types of heating equipment, they can still be a drain on your energy costs if not used properly. It’s important to place and use your space heater strategically in order to get the most out of it and save money while doing so:
Place and use your space heater where you need it most: under desks or tables that cannot be moved closer to a central heating system, for example. The goal of using space heaters is to keep yourself warm without wasting energy by sending excess warmth out into the room instead of being absorbed by your body.
Don’t let your space heater run while you’re not in the room: if the room where you will be spending time is warm enough, shut off your space heater and wait for it to cool down before trying again later.
Be sure to turn off and unplug your space heater when leaving a room or going to sleep for any length of time. Heat is stored within the materials used to make most heaters, so turning them on or off can take some time. If you are being mindful about how much energy you are using, shutting them off completely is an easy way to save money on heating bills without having to deal with cold feet!
4. Dress appropriately around the house for optimal heating efficiency
Heat rises, which means that the temperature in rooms and areas closest to the ceiling will be colder than those closer to the floor. While this is a natural law of physics, it can also be used strategically when considering how to save money on heating bills while staying comfortable at home throughout the winter season.
Just by wearing socks, slippers or stockings around the house during cold months, you’ll see an immediate impact on your overall comfort level. The temperature in your feet tends to rise quite quickly, allowing them to naturally keep warm even if you are otherwise dressed for cooler weather. You can then wear more layers higher up that won’t affect your lower body temperature as much without sacrificing needing to have the heater running constantly just to stay warm.
5. Keep curtains drawn around windows and glass doors
This is another example of reducing the amount of energy your heater needs to put out in order to stay comfortable. Heating our homes cost a lot of money, so every little bit counts when trying to save some while staying warm during the winter season.
6. Use weatherstripping or other draft blockers around windows and doors
Outdoor air that seeps into your house through cracks or other openings can take a few degrees off the temperature that comes from your heating system, especially if you have a large home with many rooms. This is because heat will seek an alternative path where it can travel instead of being forced through small gaps in the structure of a building. If you spend a few minutes using weatherstripping or caulking to fill in these gaps, you’ll find that your heater doesn’t have to work quite as hard to keep up with cold temperatures outside.
Many people who are mindful about saving money on heating bills over the course of the winter season may think that they will need to rely heavily on exterior insulation or some other major home renovation project in order to save money this year.
However, there are often many simple and affordable things you can do around the house before even considering more costly options. These suggestions for keeping warm without turning up your heating system can go a long way toward helping you stay comfortable until spring comes along again!
FAQs on how to Save Money on Heating Bills This Winter
How can I save money on heating bills this winter?
There are several easy things you can do to keep warm in your home without spending a lot of extra money in the process. These include using space heaters, dressing in layers, avoiding drafts around windows and doors, and turning off or unplugging your heater when not in use.
What steps should I follow to save money on heating bills?
Keeping warm during the winter season is often associated with high energy costs that are difficult for many people to afford.
However, there are several actions you can take before making expensive renovations or turning up your heater that can help reduce how much it needs to run each day throughout the cold months ahead.
Even small steps like adding weatherstripping around doors and windows, dressing in layers to stay warm, using space heaters when needed, and turning off or unplugging your heating system can go a long way toward making you more comfortable at home without having to spend so much in energy costs.
What are the most affordable ways to keep warm during winter?
There are several things you can do in order to stay warmer at home this winter season while still saving money on heating bills.
These actions include avoiding drafts around windows and doors, closing off unused rooms that may lose cold air throughout the day, keeping curtains drawn over windows where cold drafts get in often, wearing socks or other warm clothing around the house, using space heaters when necessary for targeted areas like near chairs or beds, and making sure to turn off or unplug your heating system when it is not in use.
Does turning the heat on and off cost more?
Turning the heat on and off only accounts for a small amount of energy use over the course of an entire season, so it will not have much impact on your bill.
If you are concerned about turning up your heater throughout the day to stay warm at home all winter long, try wearing socks or other layers around the house to help stay cozy between times when you turn up the heat again.
One of many ways to save money on heating bills is by being mindful about how often you need to turn up your heater in order to feel comfortable throughout the day.
It may be wise to dress in layers, rather than turning up the thermostat constantly, especially if you find that it continues working very hard even after returning back down into the cooler range.
Does using an electric space heater save money on heating bills?
Yes, using an electric space heater can help you to stay warm in targeted areas of your home without having to turn up the central thermostat all over the house.
When used sparingly, these heaters are very affordable and provide supplemental warmth around the house for minimal cost throughout colder months.
Eliminating drafts around doors and windows is one of many ways you can keep warmer at home this winter season while saving money on heating bills.
If you find that specific areas of your house are colder than others, try using electric space heaters around your home’s rooms to make sure everyone stays warmer while staying mindful about how long they use it each day.
At what temperature should you turn off your heat?
Keeping warm at home during the colder months can be challenging, especially if you are living in an area where temperatures drop very low.
However, turning off your heating system when it is not in use will help reduce how much energy you use throughout the winter season while still making sure everyone stays comfortable with multiple layers of clothing on.
If you find that you are using up energy from your heating system even when it isn’t being used around the house, try closing off rooms or areas that have been left open throughout the day after they gain cold air from windows and doors being opened to let people inside get back out.
This will help keep heat inside throughout each room more effectively without having to increase the temperature so much that it does not stay consistent throughout the day.
Are electric space heaters too expensive to use?
Electric space heaters are a great way to stay warm in targeted areas around your home that may not be as warm as others throughout the course of the day.
In fact, they can help you save money on heating bills by providing supplemental warmth around rooms without having to turn up your central thermostat all over the house so much.
It is important to be mindful about how often you use an electric space heater and keep it turned off when it isn’t being used so that you do not realize a higher cost for energy over time throughout colder months.
Purchasing one of these affordable heating systems could have a significant impact on reducing your monthly bill from using other heating sources throughout the house.
Winter is coming and with it the cold weather!
Here at Texan Residential Services, we want to help you save money on your heating bills this winter.
By following our tips, you can keep your home warm and comfortable without breaking the bank.
Follow our simple tips and you’ll be able to save money on your heating bills this winter. We have everything from advice on how to properly insulate your home to ways to reduce energy consumption.
Plus, we have a variety of helpful tools and calculators that will make it easy for you to find the best solution for your needs.