Winter is coming and it is once again time to crank up the furnace, start the radiators and clear the fireplace. The problem with winter is not that one has to use more energy all of a sudden, but that the tools become outdated and worn after a while. And we all crave for heating!
After a relaxing summer without relying on the central heating system, things tend to weather, get clogged or deteriorate. That is why when the time comes, as Keyrenter Arkansas explains, the systems in your home have to work overtime to achieve the same results. This winter, you can reduce your heating bills.
Dress appropriately
When winter comes along, it means that you have to adjust your wardrobe inside the house and outside. It should not surprise you that the heating bill is climbing through the roof when you walk around in shorts and a t-shirt. One of the most energy-efficient solutions is to layer up inside the house.
Get some comfortable clothing made from a bit more substantial materials and pull a sweater over your head. Keep a comforter close by when snuggling up to a good book in the evenings and wear some thick socks while walking around the house. When your body feels warm, you will be less inclined to crank up the heat.
Keep the doors closed
If there are unused rooms in the house, keep those doors closed. There is no need to heat rooms that are not used frequently and there is also no need to let the heat of a room escape by leaving a door open.
Closing the vents on these rooms is also not a bad idea. This will allow the heat to pass these rooms and travel to where it is needed. If there are pipes that run through the walls of these rooms, then you could set the heat in these rooms to a much lower temperature and still save money in the process.
If you can’t stand the cold, get into the kitchen
The temptation is always there to get take-out and go to restaurants during the winter, but this is not the most budget-friendly solution, not to mention unhealthy. Rater opts to get into the kitchen and whip out the old cooking books. While the stove and oven are on, the kitchen also heats up and reduces the need to let the furnace do the heavy lifting.
Check for leaks
A fireplace can be counterproductive if not used properly. Few things in this world are as relaxing as lounging in front of a smouldering fire. It is when the fire is not burning that it becomes a problem as the heat in the house will escape through the chimney unless it is not closed up after use.
Checking the ducts and the rest of the house’s insulation should also be on your list of leak checks. Some of the biggest culprits in the house are the windows and doors. Make sure they are sealed tight when closed to ensure that the heat stays inside.
Utilize the backward spin of your ceiling fans
This is one of the most underutilized features of the ceiling fan that very few people ever use. There is a little switch on the side of nearly all ceiling fans that allows the fan to spin backwards or clockwise.
During the winter months, you can use this feature to distribute the warm air through the house faster. While the blades rotate clockwise, they pull the air upwards and force the warm air to the ceilings and down the walls once again.
Service the heating system
Every heating system needs regular maintenance. There is bound to be a buildup of dust and dander in the filters of your heating system, which will cause the system to work harder to do the same amount of heating.
If you have pets that lose their hair, it would be wise to change the filters every month, but a good rule of thumb is to change it at the start of every season. To get the most out of your heating system, enlist the services of a professional so they can tune-up your system so that you can get the most out of it for less.
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