Tips & Tricks

How To Maintain Heat In Your House And Save Money Because Of It

It’s that time of the year again (in some parts of the world, that’s almost every time). Multiple layers of clothing, longer freezing nights, and snowflakes.

One thing winter has going for it is the holidays. Lots of gifts and love going around. Hello Christmas! As the excitement of the season reaches its peak, so is the energy bill.

We’re sure you’d rather spend your hard-earned cash on other things pleasurable than spend it on bills. That’s why we came up with ways you can save some money while still keeping your home toasty and cozy.

A large proportion of energy bills often goes into heating. So, cutting down on that aspect will surely save you a decent amount of money in the long run. Did we hear you say amen?

Join us as we take you through some of the tips that will help you enjoy the winter in your home rather than endure it.

Optimize insulation

A significant amount of the heat you manage to generate leaks out through the roof. The aim is to keep the heat in, at least most of it. So, the more heat loss we can prevent, the better.

One way to prevent the roof from being counter-productive in our quest to save money is by insulating it. Installing insulation on the loft can help keep around 25% of the heat in, where we want it.

Padding up the walls can also go a long way helping our cause to cut on energy bills. Experts say about 33 percent of the heat generated in a home that is not insulated can be lost through the walls.

Although wall insulation can be a bit more expensive than roof insulation, if you invest in it, you will thank your

financial acumen as you will save a lot more in energy bills.

It might be a great idea if you check with the company supplying you energy to know if they’ve got one of those discounting schemes that can save you on insulating cost.

Get a thermostatic radiator valve

With these ‘hustlers’, you can save up to 40% on energy costs compared to homes without one. This information is gotten from the findings of a University of Salford research, so you can rest assured it is legit.

These radiators allow you regulate the temperature, even in individual rooms! You can even program the radiator such that it comes on at preset times. That way, it is only the energy you need that you use. You know how that’ll affect your pocket, don’t you?

There are ‘smart’ thermostats you can invest in too. These types of HVAC tech allow you remotely control the temperature in your home. They have dedicated apps you can install on your mobile devices. Imagine turning up the heat on your way home so that by the time you get there, your abode is just at the temperature you like.

Step up your boiler

If your boiler is one of those old models, it will be nice if you upgrade it. One of those A-rated condensing boilers would make a great replacement. They use up a lot less energy to produce enough heat for your home.

It is also a good idea to have your boiler serviced from time to time. Since they account for a high portion of the energy bill, it only makes sense to keep them running efficiently.

You will be demanding of your boiler during the winter. We’re sure you don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night wondering what you’re doing outside as it’s so cold.

Only to find out you’re not outside. Your boiler just gave up on you. So, save yourself that risk, and some money by keeping your boiler properly serviced.

Get rid of the draughts

Energy saving organizations suggest that blocking draughts in your home can save you on energy costs. Truth be told, draughts will not only let in cold air during winter, it will also let out the heat from your home.

Now that’s an avoidable waste of precious heat. Over time, it will tell on your heating system as it will have to work extra to keep the temperature at the desired level.

In such a situation, it is not only your heating system you’re causing extra hassle. You’re being unfair to yourself too, your pocket precisely.

There are simple, pocket-friendly solutions for closing up draughts, hence keeping in warmth.

You can look up DIY ways to draught-proof your home. To close up those door and window gaps, and don’t forget the cracks on the floor. Those self-adhesive rubber seals at your local hardware stores can come in handy here. Not only are they inexpensive, they are quite easy to install too.

Go south with the temperature

The World Health Organization recommends that the temperature in living rooms should be 21oC. Others, like the Public Health of England, says it’s still okay to keep it around 18oC.

We’ll rather go with the latter, their recommendation is still healthy and will save us some money, which is always a good idea.

Research shows that a 1oC reduction in temperature can save you up to 10% on your heating bill. Honestly, it is a fantastic feeling walking into a 25oC home when it is freezing cold outside. Come to think of it, wouldn’t we still be okay to keep the temperature down to about 18 or 19 degrees?

We’re sure that’s not bad.

And considering the amount of money you will save, that should be sufficient motivation to adapt to the slight temperature change.

Get smart with timing

Most people would often put on heating when they get up in the morning and turn up the temperature so the place heats up faster. That seems like a smart move. The truth is that boilers heat up at a constant speed regardless of the temperature you set.

However, a smarter move will be to turn on the heating, say an hour earlier, and let it run at a lower temperature.

The smart thing about this method is, you guessed it, it will save you on heating cost.

And you don’t need to wake up an hour earlier just to implement this method. You can set the timer on your thermostat so it starts up automatically.

Other tips to help you avoid the red alert on your heating budget

Some other little ways you could avoid relying too much on your heating system are by:

  • Rearranging furniture. Move the sofa away from the radiator. We don’t exactly care if the chair is feeling hot or cold. We just don’t want it absorbing any of the heat that should be keeping us warm.
  • Getting radiator panels. These panels reflect the warm air making sure it stays in circulation and not getting absorbed by the walls. This can be a less expensive alternative to insulating your walls.
  • Dressing up. Get thick clothes on even though you are in the house. The clothes will keep you warm and can allow you steal some more degrees off the thermostat.

There you have it! All you need to stay toasty during the winter and not go broke afterwards.

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