Many of us are already starting to feel the cold snap coming in but, what with the recent rises in cost of living across the board, you might be waiting a little longer than usual to turn on the heating. However, you shouldn’t deprive yourself of a warm home just because you don’t want to contribute to a rising heating bill. Here, we’re going to look at ways to make the home easier to heat without having to use more heating.
Give your heating a once over
If it has been years since you last had someone take a look at the heating system of the home, then now is the time to get them out for a service. You should be having your heating system serviced at least once a year. There are plenty of issues that can reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of your heating and getting an inspection is the best way to identify and fix them safely.
Close up any air leaks
One of the ways that cool air can most effectively get into the home and all the heat can escape is through air leaks, which tend to be most prevalent around doors and windows. You can caulk up some leaks but for things like older windows, you might have a hard time catching all of them, and getting a new window might be much more effective.
Check the exterior of the home
There are parts of the exterior of the home that, when they start to wear down, can result in issues like air leaks and even moisture leaks just as easily. This is especially true of the siding. If the exterior of the home is starting to look a little shabby, calling on a James Hardie siding contractor might be just what your home needs. Aside from making the home more energy efficient, it can also improve the weatherproofing of the pad.
Soften it up
You need to think about not just how you heat up the home, but how effectively it retains and keeps heat as well. Although far from the only thing that you can do, one option is to look at using more soft furnishings. Implementing options like area rugs and throws more frequently through the home can make it a lot cozier and softer materials tend to retain heat for longer than cool surfaces.
Be smart with your heating
Rather than simply never turning the heating on in the home, you can make sure that you’re never using more than you mean to. By installing a smart thermometer, you can set a target temperature for your home and ensure that the heating is never on more than it needs to be. Setting your thermometer a degree or two lower can save a lot of energy, as well.
Some of the tips above are going to require some investment. However, they are investments that will pay off in the end thanks to reductions in your heating bill, so they’re certainly worth it.
