If your utility bills are making you shiver, chances are you are paying too much to heat your house. Fortunately, there are ways to save money on heating your home. You can install Geothermal heat, Oil-filled radiators, Electric space heaters, and even wood stoves.
Geothermal heat
Geothermal heat pumps use natural heat in your house to heat and cool your home. They are more expensive to install than an air-source system, but the cost of installing the system can be recovered over five to ten years. However, geothermal systems are best suited for larger buildings, such as commercial buildings and multi-unit residential buildings.
In addition to being the cheapest way to heat a house, geothermal heating systems also offer excellent efficiency. Average geothermal systems can produce up to three to five units of heat for every unit of electricity used. This efficiency is comparable to that of the highest-efficiency boilers and furnaces. Another advantage is that geothermal systems draw energy directly from the earth, requiring less energy from utility companies.
Oil-filled radiators
Oil-filled radiators can be installed in your home for a variety of reasons. Not only do they use less electricity than conventional radiators, they can be extremely cost-effective, too. The diathermic oil used to fill the radiators has a high capacity for absorbing heat and radiating it over a long time. An oil-filled radiator can heat a room for hours on end without burning out, which is a significant energy saving.
Oil-filled radiators are also a great emergency heating option. These are very cheap and will heat your room quickly. However, they can be prone to overheating and do not stay warm for long when turned off. They may also be ineffective when used in very cold climates. You can also use battery-powered space heaters, but these are often insufficient. Similarly, fan heaters may provide instant heat, but hot air produced by these heaters can be dangerous to your health.
Electric space heaters
Electric space heaters are an affordable way to keep your house warm in winter. They only use power when you use them, so they can save you money on your electricity bill. They can be portable, meaning you can move them from room to room as needed. Another benefit of electric space heaters is that they are energy efficient. They don’t use a lot of electricity, which means you won’t have to spend money on ventilation. Electric space heaters are available in many models and types and can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
While electric space heaters can save you money on energy bills, they can cause health problems in some people. If you’re prone to dust allergies, electric space heaters can lead to a buildup of dust in the room. You can also supplement your primary heating system with space heaters if you find certain rooms to be colder than others.
Wood stoves
Wood stoves are an environmentally friendly way to heat your house. They use wood as fuel and reduce your carbon footprint by up to 50%. They can also heat your house more efficiently than gas or electricity. Many models are EPA certified, which means that they will burn wood at a higher efficiency than other products on the market.
Wood stoves are available as standalone units or as fireplace inserts. The former requires a smaller space and are easier to install, while the latter requires more space. Pellet stoves are similar to wood stoves but have a built-in blower for more even heat distribution. Both produce low emissions and continue to work during a power outage, making them a low-cost way to heat a house.
Electric blankets
Electric blankets can be a great way to save money on energy bills. By using one during the night, you can turn down your thermostat by eight degrees and save approximately $24 a month in energy costs. Even though electric blankets are not free, they will pay for themselves within six months of regular use.
Electric blankets are made with a special material that contains small wires that heat up when you turn them on. You can use them like a normal blanket under your duvet or even insert them inside a duvet cover to make them extra comfortable. Newer models use thin carbon wires to increase their efficiency and save energy.
Keeping vents clear
One of the best ways to keep a house warm is to clear away snow and other debris that collects around heating vents. In colder climates, this means clearing away ice and snow from walkways and exhaust pipes. But when it comes to new homes, a new house might not have enough oxygen to circulate inside. This is the reason why keeping vents clear is so important.
Another way to save money on heating your house is to avoid blocking air vents. Blocked vents not only make heating systems less efficient, but they can also pose a fire hazard. To minimize the risks of fire, keep furniture at least eight inches from air vents. Programmable thermostats are also helpful when it comes to saving money on energy bills and preventing fires. These thermostats are easy to set, and you can use them to reduce the temperature of your home when you’re not at home.