Dealing with cold winters can be irritating enough on its own, but trying to figure out how your utilities are so high can be even more frustrating. Where does all that money go?
To help you out with rising utility costs, here are some tips for reducing your heating costs in the winter:
Change to a More Efficient Heater
One of your first options is to simply change to a different and more efficient heater. This doesn't always work, since you might already have a very efficient heater. If you have an older unit, though, then you may have a lot to gain.
Modern units use less power and produce the same output, which ultimately means that your utility bills will go down but your home will stay warm. Additionally, by buying a new heater, you are getting a fresh start. You won't need to deal with the frustrations of old filters, dust buildups, and general wear and tear.
Check Your Insulation and Seals
However, your problem might have nothing to do with your heater and everything to do with your house. Your insulation might simply be worn down, which means that you want to take a look at potentially problematic areas of your house. Check to see if certain areas feel colder than the rest of the house, since this should give you some insight into where to look.
Door and windows can actually warp a bit over time, which means that they don't fit in their frames quite as well. This ultimately allows air to pass in and out of your home, stealing some of your precious heat. By resizing your frame or replacing your doors/windows, you can help your home retain heat much better.
Open Up Those Blinds
You might also be surprised to learn that you can dramatically heat up your house just by opening up some blinds. Light naturally carries a good deal of heat with it, which is how the idea of solar power works. By opening blinds in your home, you are allowing a lot of that light and heat to enter your home.
This is quite effective in snowy winters, where a large portion of light can actually reflect off of the snow. This reflection can bounce a lot of light into your home, creating some nice extra heat during the day. While this may not have a huge impact on you heating bills, every little bit helps.
Contact a furnace repair company for more help.
Share28 January 2016
Can furnace repairs be made by the average DIYer? If you know a little about what you are doing, is it possible to avoid the expense of having a professional come out to take care of any problems that you are having? My blog is all about furnace safety and repair. You will learn a few things that you can do on your own and advice for when to call in the professional repair technician to assist with the repairs. By the time you reach the end, you will have a better understanding of what you can and should not do on your own.
