If you’re finding that your winter heating costs have gone through the roof, whether you are working from home or isolating yourself from COVID-19, then there are ways to reduce your bills.
The average cost of heat in winter in Toronto is around $125-150 per month. When you consider that this can be reduced significantly by making a few small regular changes, the savings add up.
Here are some tips to reduce winter heating costs.
Service Your Furnace for Maximum Performance
Make sure your furnace has a regular service according to the furnace manual. If it’s over ten years old, you will need your heating setup assessed. Servicing should be done by a reputable HVAC contractor such as Rodman’s Heating & Air Conditioning.
Ensuring your furnace is efficient can significantly reduce your energy usage, as it will require less effort to heat the house and maintain optimal temperature.
Use a Programmable Thermostat to Regulate Temperatures Automatically
Programmable thermostats make regulating home usage easier, especially when you are out of the house. And, with modern thermostats, many can be controlled via the internet. If you have one of these already, it’s worth checking to see if it works at maximum performance.
Not only can you use a programmable thermostat for the whole house, but these can also exist in a setup that allows you to control individual rooms. That way, the system can micromanage your home, so if you only use half the rooms, you only need to heat the rooms in use.
Add a Humidifier to Increase Efficiency
If your house is too dry, it can cause significant damage to your property and also be inefficient in heating and cooling. Therefore investing in a humidifier is a great way to reduce bills since it creates an optimal atmosphere to ensure the most comfortable living.
The temptation is to turn the heating up in a dry house, but with this energy-saving tip , you might find you won’t need the heating as high because the humidity will bring cleaner air to the room.
Improve Home Insulation to Reduce Winter Heating Costs
Maximizing your home insulation is one of the best ways to save money in the long run, as your house will retain the heat better. It provides less inclination to leave the heating on to come back to a warm home.
So if you leave the house for three hours and return home, your ambient temperature is likely warmer than before insulating. You can relax with the knowledge that you won’t have as much wasted heat.
Wear Warmer Clothes Indoors and Lower the Thermostat
If you are going to insulate your own home, there’s no reason you shouldn’t protect yourself as well! Wearing suitable clothing and extra layers can, with the right clothes, feel more comfortable and snug than a warmer house.
And it doesn’t have to be permanent. You may only choose to wear warm clothes while you wait for the house to warm up, but even doing this will save you a reasonable amount of money.
Winter Heating Costs Need a Mindset Change
Purchasing equipment is one part of the puzzle, but to get the most value for money, you’ll need to continue that mindset all year round. Just because your usage is higher in the winter doesn’t mean there are no savings for the rest of the year.
Now that you are equipped with all the information you need to minimize your bill, it’s time to get your heating equipment serviced. Contact the experts at Rodman’s Heating & Air Conditioning for all your HVAC needs in the Durham Region!