With inflation pushing costs higher, a lot of people are looking for ways to be efficient and effective in heating their homes this winter. It sounds hard to believe, but up to 61% of the total energy used in the average Canadian home goes to heating! We’ve compiled a list of easy tips to help save money on heating your home during these cold winter months.
Eliminate Drafts
Drafts can be a significant source of heat loss, especially in the winter! The greatest points of heat loss in your home will always be your windows and doors. If a full replacement isn’t in the budget, there are still great low cost options that make a huge difference. Adding weather-stripping around your windows and doors can eliminate the largest drafts and are a
great semi-permanent solution.
If you’re looking for something temporary or easily removable, most home improvement stores will sell window insulating kits. It’s simple to install by following the instructions and can make a difference not just for drafts but overall insulation if you have older windows. For doors, there are also easily removable draft stoppers that just slip under your door without the need for any screws or fasteners.
Install Ceiling Fans
Did you know that you should change the direction of your ceiling fans depending on the season? Typically, we think of fans in the heat of the summer months, but they can make a big difference in the comfort level of your home even in the wintertime. For the chilly winter months, your fan direction should be switched to move the air downwards. This will grab the warm, heated air that stays close to the ceilings and circulate it through the room, reducing how high you need to turn the thermostat as the room will feel warmer.
Keep Your Furnace Running Efficiently
Don’t forget to change your furnace filter! Changing this regularly with the seasons help to maximize air flow through your furnace and ensure that it’s pumping as much of that warm air through your house as possible. Better airflow means better performance! It’s also important to keep your vents clear and not blocked by furniture or curtains so the air can circulate freely. You can also buy vent deflectors if furniture is not as easy to rearrange.
Use A Programmable Thermostat
Investing in a programmable thermostat is a quick and easy way to save money. Believe it or not, studies show that lowering the temperature on your thermostat by as little as 1 degree for an 8 hour period can save you up to 2% of your heating bill. Also, don’t forget to pay attention to Time of Use guidelines! You can set your furnace to turn on in the early morning hours when prices are lowest to make sure the house is toasty warm when you get out of bed. Best of all, you can set it and forget it for the rest of the season!
Embrace The Daylight!
Letting in the winter sunshine can help passively heat up your rooms during the daytime, even with reduced daylight hours. Open all your curtains and blinds in the morning to maximize the light coming into your home. Don’t forget to close them back up in the evening when it’s dark to keep as much heat in as possible.
Written by Sarah Park (sarah@jj.team)
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