Old farmer’s almanac Canadian’s August edition predicts a significantly chilly winter. This expectation means you’ll need heating appliances to work round the clock in your home. On the other hand, you’ll also be looking to save on winter heating costs.
Reports show energy costs are fast rising in Canada as winter approaches. While it looks like it’s inevitable, it’s manageable.
In this article, we’ll make you understand how energy saving works. Essentially, we’ll provide practical tips to cut energy costs during winter.
Load the Dishwasher and The Laundry Machine
You conserve energy when you fill the dishwasher and washing machine to capacity during use. Washing your clothes or dishes in bits uses up more energy than necessary.
Additionally, you can save on heating costs by letting dishes air dry in the dishwasher and selecting the economy wash setting.
Take Advantage of Solar Power
When the winter sun shines, it brings valuable solar heat useful for housewarming. Making use of it helps you save on winter heating costs.
During the day, let light in by opening the blinds and curtains. You should prioritize the ones on the south side of the room. Meanwhile, remember to pull them down at night to help keep the house warm.
Adjust the Heater
Preventative maintenance on the furnace is essential before winter arrives. You can lower energy consumption with a simple furnace tune-up. This endeavour helps manage rising heating costs by a 10% reduction.
Also, routinely replacing the filter in the furnace is essential for maintenance. Replace your inefficient natural gas heater with a high-efficiency model that uses a variable-speed blower motor.
Doing this helps you achieve efficiencies of 95% or higher. When not in use, ensure the damper on your wood fireplace is shut.
Keep an Eye On the Relative Humidity
Humidity levels typically drop as a home’s furnace warms up. Therefore, get a quality humidifier to maintain the ideal humidity level between 35% – 45%.
This action helps save on winter heating costs because wet air has a higher thermal comfort and retention value than dry air.
Ensure Better Insulation
Inadequate insulation can cause significant heat loss to the environment. Therefore, you should install energy-efficient heating systems or upgrade your insulation to save money on heating. This consideration is even more critical if you live in an older home.
Twenty-five percent of your home’s heat loss could be attributable to an uninsulated basement. As such, the door’s insulation leading up to the attic needs thorough examination.
Thermostat Should Be Down to 20 Degrees Celsius
An easy way to lower heating bills is to keep your house at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and wear a sweater if it gets chilly. When you go to bed at night, turn the temperature to 18 degrees Celsius.
Pipes will likely freeze and burst if the temperature drops below 12 degrees Celsius. Therefore, keeping the temperature in the home between 12 and 16 degrees while you’re away is advisable.
Additionally, you can install a programmable thermostat to eliminate the need for periodic temperature adjustments. And for every one °C you lower the thermostat, you save 2% on heating costs.
Related Article: How to Add Central Air Conditioning to Your HVAC
Install Insulation Film Over Drafty Windows and Patio Doors
You may also avoid high heating bills by getting some window insulation kits from a hardware store. Then put them in your old, draughty windows and patio doors. This deed increases their R-value and ensures cold draft reduces.
Spend Less On Heating Water
About 11–18% of most homes’ monthly energy bill goes toward heating water for use. Therefore, save on winter heating costs by turning the water heater to 49 degrees Celsius. Anything more is honestly luxury.
On water heating issues, try to:
- Reduce the amount of time you spend soaking in the tub or shower.
- Replace an older water heater or wrap it in insulation if replacement is far-fetched for you at the moment.
Insulate the first five to eight feet of pipe running down from the heater. Remember that sediment buildup in a water heater needs cleaning at least twice yearly. That improves the heater efficiency.
Use Cold Water in Washing Machine and Empty the Lint Filter After Each Load
When washing your clothes, always use cold water. You’ll save on winter heating costs because this measure reduces your energy consumption by 75%.
Also, empty the lint trap in the dryer and clean it after each use. Buildup left can reduce efficiency by as much as 30 percent.
Also, ensure you consecutively dry loads to make the most of the warm dryer. You can cut drying times in half and soften clothes completely naturally by using dryer balls.
Use CFLs and LEDs instead of Incandescent Bulbs
Using energy-efficient light bulbs like CFLs and LEDs will reduce your monthly utility bill. They can reduce energy consumption by up to 80% and last significantly longer.
Install Shower Heads and Low-flow Faucets
Low-flow faucets and shower heads will reduce your energy consumption and water consumption. Indirectly, you also save on winter heating costs.
Experiment with Light Timers and Motion Sensors
Incorporating light timers and motion detectors are great, especially for outdoor lighting. You can set timers to turn on for a certain number of hours daily, and motion detectors can turn on the lights only when needed.
Use a Smart Power Strip
When not in use, flip the switch on the power strip to cut power to your home appliances like television, computer, DVD player, TV box, speakers, etc.
This measure can reduce your energy bill by as much as 10% by minimizing phantom load losses.
Drip-proof your Home to Prevent Draughts
Some heat is lost through crevices and voids. So, to succeed in your mission to conserve energy:
- Feel the walls
- Examine the windows
- Check the doors\ Closely check the corners.
Heat is escaping if you feel a draught of cold air coming through any openings. This loop also means your energy bill is fast piling up.
One of the signs that air leaks are lowering surface temperature is the presence of frost or ice on the window frame.
You can find the most obvious places where the air is escaping from the frame by performing a “Hand” or “Candle Test.” Defective windows will reduce your home’s energy efficiency, so it’s crucial to replace them as soon as possible.
Related Article: How Much to Install a Gas Range
Summary
Drip-proofing your home, among other tips, will help reduce the heating cost during winter. You may buy new heating appliances needing installation. Or you need maintenance services. We are the best company to help with both.
We at Alp Heating are one of the few heating installation and maintenance services doing fantastic work in Canada. We work round the clock and are ready to help you have a warm, affordable winter. Speak to us today.
