Winter is here. Soon it’s chilly temperatures will be here to linger for a few months, and then you’ll be cranking the thermostat to keep yourself warm. But before you adjust the temps, consider these tips to reduce your heating bill. You can use the extra money to buy yourself another gift or two!
1. Start with your thermostat
“Setting temperatures at or below 68 degrees is ideal for keeping power costs to a minimum during the cooler months,” says Stacee Flanagan, energy solutions director for allconnect, a free online and call-in resource that helps people find, compare, and order utilities like electricity or Internet providers. “In fact, every extra degree set below 68 degrees can save you up to five percent on heating costs, according to the Consumer Energy Center.”
When you’re away for a short or extended period of time, leave the thermostat at around 55 degrees to save even more. Program it to 68 about an hour or so before you return from work so your apartment will be warm when you get home.
2. Be careful with space heaters
“While space heaters can supply immediate relief to a cold room, they tend to be huge energy suckers and can cause your heating bill to go up dramatically,” says Flanagan. “Space heaters are not an effective replacement for central heating and plugging one into every room will not heat your home more efficiently. Also, space heaters can interfere with your central thermometer, resulting in both heat sources operating longer than necessary.”
If there is one small room you’re trying to heat (like your bedroom), try using a space heater and shutting off the central air. But if you’re trying to heat your entire apartment using space heaters, you’re probably better off just using the thermostat. Try it out for one month to see if it saves you money.
3. Replace your air filters
Clogged air filters can contribute to sky high heating bills since your central air unit won’t run as efficiently. Replace yours at least every three months to save.
4. Swap out your light bulbs
“Compact fluorescent light bulbs last six times as long as traditional bulbs and use 75 percent less electricity. You don’t even have to replace all of your bulbs to save money. By just replacing a few of your most used light bulbs with CFLs, you can save $40 on electricity over the bulb’s lifetime,” says Flanagan.
5. Turn on your ceiling fan
Hear us out on this one. Making your ceiling fan turn in a clockwise direction might help heat a room.
“Some experts say that ceiling fans that operate in ‘reverse mode’ (clockwise rotation) can help heat a room. In reverse mode, the fan warms the room by forcing the warm air that accumulates at the ceiling down to the floor. According to University of Arkansas, ceiling fans may reduce heating costs by 20 to 30 percent,” says Flanagan.
If you already have a ceiling fan in your apartment, this might be worth a try. Most ceiling fans have a button on the body of the fan that changes the direction of the rotation.
6. Harness the sun
“Leave curtains and blinds open during daylight hours. The sun will naturally warm the inside of the home…free heating,” says Brian Davis, director of education with SparkRental.com, a website that provides resources for rental property managers.
When you’re at home, leave the blinds open to let in as much light as you feel comfortable with.
[tweetthis]DYK: Humid air feels warmer & holds heat better, easing dry skin so many people suffer each winter.[/tweetthis]
7. Consider a humidifier
“Humid air feels warmer and holds heat better and eases the dry skin so many people suffer each winter. Newer models are extremely energy-efficient to boot,” says Davis.
The less expensive humidifiers cost around $30. Fill it with water, turn it on, and let the humidifier release water vapor into a room to raise the level of humidity.
8. Swap out screen windows for storm windows
A storm window, essentially, is a second window that acts as a way to better insulate a house. It can be an ideal way to slash your heating bill without having to replace the window entirely. Check with your property manager to see if they have any.
“Many rental units already have the replacements in storage or already sitting in the window frame,” says Davis.
9. Dress in layers
One of the easiest ways to save? Dress warmer. Try putting on extra sweaters when you’re cold, and put extra blankets on the bed.
“By dressing in layers inside, you are able to run the heater at a lower temperature and still be comfortable. While this solution may not be ideal, it is inexpensive and it works,” says Flanagan.
Still not warm enough for you? Here are 6 more tips to try!