Heating a house or apartment can be a significant expense, especially when temperatures drop. However, there are many ways to save money on heating. In this entry, we will look at 11 ways to save on heating, which in our opinion are the most interesting. They will help you keep your home warm and will also have a positive impact on your finances and the environment. So let’s learn the secrets of efficient heating that benefit both your wallet and the planet!
Saving heating – advantages and impact on the environment
Saving on heating is important both for your household budget and for the environment. Nowadays, ensuring the efficient use of thermal energy is more important than ever before.
You may have noticed that energy prices have been steadily rising for some time now. Moreover, most of the heat energy is produced from fossil fuels, which include gas, coal and crude oil. The burning of these raw materials causes the emission of carbon dioxide and other harmful substances into the atmosphere. This, in turn, contributes to global warming and environmental degradation.
Saving on heating is especially important nowadays due to climate change. The effects of global warming are becoming more and more visible, including: extreme weather conditions or rising sea levels. They require decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You must be aware that heating has a significant impact on emissions.
The main benefits of saving on heating:
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions – beneficial impact on the environment,
- reducing energy bills – reducing monthly expenses,
- extending the life of heating devices, e.g. boilers or heat pumps.
Saving on heating – ways
Proper ventilation of the apartment
You may be intrigued by this headline and wondering what it might mean. Theoretically, it seems that there is nothing difficult about airing rooms. However, you must know that airing during the heating season is different from what we are used to in the summer months. Now it is not enough to open the window and close it after some time, although of course some people do that.
Before you start airing, you need to turn off the radiators, i.e. set them to 0. This will prevent heat from escaping through the window, and the radiator will not have to constantly heat the cold air. It is best to open the windows wide and close the doors to the room. Just a few minutes of airing will change the air.
Thermal insulation
Thermal insulation involves protecting buildings against heat loss. It is commonly called warming. If done correctly, it will prevent heat loss through walls, roofs, floors and windows. Properly protected walls are able to maintain the temperature at a constant level. This way you can reduce the energy demand for heating individual rooms. And as a result, reduce heating costs and increase the energy efficiency of the building.
Using the thermostat
The thermostat works by maintaining a specific temperature in rooms. This way you will avoid overheating your apartment. They allow you to heat selected rooms, so you can only heat those where someone actually stays during the day.
By using a thermostat, you can heat your house or apartment efficiently while reducing costs.
Uncovering the radiators
The idea is not to block the radiators with clothes, furniture, curtains, etc. This prevents the free flow of heat around the room. Exposed radiators can be one way to save on heating. We then reduce energy consumption, which leads to lower heating costs.
At the same time, it is also worth bleeding the radiators if they are clogged with air. This is a quick and effective solution, and you can do it yourself.
Sealing windows and doors
Sealing windows and doors helps minimize heat leaks to the outside and maintain the temperature inside the rooms. This, in turn, translates into lower energy consumption for heating. It is worth noting that this is one of the cheapest options for dealing with this problem.
Not sure if your window needs sealing? Close it and see if you feel cold breezes around it. This will mean that the window is leaking. In the same way, you can check other places, e.g. around holes in the wall. Most often, you just need to buy and glue a gasket that will fix it. Just remember to choose the right one.
Installation of radiator screens
Radiator screens are special mats that are placed on the wall behind the radiator. Their task is to reflect heat into the room. In this way, the wall does not heat up, so the heat is not absorbed into the wall.
These mats are able to reflect up to 90% of the heat located at the back of the radiator. Thanks to this, they can significantly reduce heating bills.
Window adjustment for winter
If the wind still blows from the window despite replacing the seals, the problem may lie elsewhere. This happens when the sash is too loosely pressed against the window frame. In winter, the window should be pressed tighter. Remember that adjustments should be made twice a year.
You can fix it yourself – just adjust the windows by turning just one element. Don’t know how to do it? Don’t worry, you can easily find diagrams on how to properly position the window and even instructional videos online.
Lowering the temperature at night
During sleep, our body does not need as much heat as during the day. Besides, most people sleep under the covers, so the chances of you getting cold are almost zero.
Lowering the temperature at night also helps minimize heat loss in the room. Moreover, a lower temperature in the bedroom means greater sleep comfort. According to recommendations regarding the optimal temperature in the house, the bedroom is the coldest room (right after the pantry).
Inspection of the installation before the heating season
This way you check the condition and efficiency of the heating system. Additionally, this allows you to identify possible problems and fix them in time. It often turns out that there are leaks, damage or leaks. Many of these problems can lead to wasted energy and increased heating costs.
An inspection of the heating system is an ideal opportunity to clean and maintain the boiler, furnace or heat pump. By doing this regularly, you will be able to keep your devices in working order. In addition, it will also be easier to prevent breakdowns.
Reducing heating while you are away from home
When there is no one at home, there is no need to keep the temperature high. This only leads to wasted energy and increased costs. However, remember not to cool the apartment to zero, because this is also not a good solution. After such cooling, the heating system will have to work at high speed.
It is also worth turning down radiators (or setting a lower temperature) in rooms that are used occasionally.
Modernization of the heating system
The last way is to modernize the heating system. There are many options, e.g. replacing the old boiler with a new one. Replacing it with a modern and more efficient one can bring significant savings. Another option is to install a heat pump – they are becoming an increasingly popular solution. It uses energy from its surroundings (i.e. air, water or land) to then produce heat from it. Heat pumps are more energy-efficient than traditional boilers and can significantly reduce heating costs.
Modernizing your heating will allow you to actually start saving on heating your home.
When talking about saving, we encourage you to check out similar posts:
Summary
In the above article, we discussed 11 methods that will help you reduce your heating costs. Remember, however, not to overdo it with savings, you have to approach it wisely.
Therefore, choose saving methods that will lower your bills, but not at the expense of residents’ comfort.
Image sources:
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