5 Ways to Lower Home Heating Costs
Every year we hear the scary news: Home heating costs are on the rise again, and we should brace ourselves— winter is coming. Heating your home accounts for almost 42 percent of your total energy consumption. This is one of the reasons why you should consider new ways to manage your home heating costs.
In this article, you’ll learn five (5) ways to lower your rental heating cost and save money even during winter.
- Have Your Furnace Cleaned And Checked
Regular maintenance is a simple step that can lower your energy needs and your utility bill. When your furnace is running at its best, it can save you money every month, and keep going longer without needing expensive repairs.
Check for soot, rust, and corrosion in, on and around the furnace and on the floor surrounding it. These indicate the system requires immediate service. Changing the air filter once a month can also help bolster your heater efficiency.
- Turn Down The Temperature
The U.S. Energy Department says setting your thermostat to 68 F when you’re at home and active, and then lowering it when you sleep saves money. Lowering the thermostat 7-10 degrees for eight hours daily from its normal setting can save as much as 10 percent a year, on average, depending on where you live.
- Get Smart With Your Thermostat
Your thermostat is a valve between your energy supplier and your wallet. For every degree you turn it down, you use up to 2 percent less heating energy. A 10-degree setback overnight or while you’re at work cuts your heating bill by up to 10 percent. More importantly, you can switch to a smart programmable thermostat to help you save more energy.
A programmable thermostat saves energy without you even thinking about it. Simply adjust the settings to turn down the temperature automatically while you’re away. When programming, keep in mind that it may take as little as 15 minutes to heat your home to a comfortable level.
- Stop The Drafts
Warm air leaking out of your rental property can be responsible for about 20 percent of heating costs, according to the Department of Energy. The irony is that this problem could easily be fixed after a quick shopping trip to the local hardware store; weather stripping for doors can cost less than $15 and is easy to install.
Don’t forget the windows, which are another big source of air drafts. There are a variety of solutions –from hot-air sealed window plastic to window films and window shades – that could fit your needs. Be careful, though, because lots of sunlight filtering through windows can actually provide some heating benefits.
- Wrap Your Water Heater
While you’re at it, give your water heater or water tank a hug by wrapping it in an insulation blanket. An insulating blanket on your water heater and insulating wraps on your hot water pipes prevents them from losing heat to the outside air. It helps you save energy, money, and you won’t have to wait as long for the water to get hot at the faucet.
Final Thoughts
There are several ways to reduce your rental property heating bill during the winter season. From conducting regular maintenance to adopting energy-saving lifestyle, you are guaranteed of a lower monthly energy cost. Most importantly, you should hire the service of an energy auditor to help you discover new ways you can reduce heating costs in your property.