As winter approaches, many homeowners dread an increase in utility bills that accompanies it. The culprit that causes energy use to spike is your home’s heating system. While heating is necessary, if not essential, for surviving long, bitterly cold winter months, its costs can be crippling to an already strained budget.
What can be done to balance a household’s need for heat with that for saving money? Your answer lies with efficient heating, which does the job while consuming minimal energy and not resulting in skyrocketing energy bills. Here is some advice on how to ensure you find an optimal combination:
Choose the right energy source
Many homeowners find gas to be an ideal heating energy source as it is inexpensive yet effective. However, not all homes are connected to gas mainlines, and securing a connection might not be possible or become an expensive process. Do not let that deter you from finding a cost-effective heating solution. Homeowners can utilize energy saving electric radiators from BestElectricRadiators to great effect. Previously, electric heating systems consumed excessive amounts of electricity. However, thanks to advanced technology and modern designs driven by efficiency, that is no longer the case.
Elnur Ecombi and Technotherm offer similar ranges of electric radiators. All suppliers have a wide range of radiators, with at least one to suit different room sizes, a homeowner’s décor tastes, and a heating budget. While it might be a significant investment to install these new electric radiators, you will recoup your money many times over by saving on your energy bill.
Choose the right temperature
Many homeowners go to great lengths to heat their houses far more than is necessary. They set their heating thermostat temperature so high that they wear summer clothing while indoors. This can add hundreds of dollars to their annual energy bill expenditure. Heating should create a comfortable temperature indoors without reaching tropical levels.
Turning the thermostat temperature down by a few degrees will be barely noticeable in how warm a house is but will make a significant difference to your energy bill. Everyone might need an extra blanket or layer of clothing, but this should not prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, and any savings on energy expenses can be utilized elsewhere in your household budget. The thermostat in an average American home is set at 68 to 72 degrees. Consider trying to reduce it by a degree or two during daylight hours and a little more at night once everyone has retired to the warmth of their beds.
Choose optimal times
Timers are an effective way of reducing your energy bill while still heating your home efficiently. Having the heating on at a constant temperature 24/7 is not energy efficient, especially when everyone leaves the house during the day. Wasted energy consumption is unnecessary if you utilize timers.
Timers turn your heating on and off according to selected time blocks. For example, you can set your heating to go off right after everyone leaves home for work and school. Then have it set to come on again about an hour before they start arriving back. You can turn your heating off overnight while everyone is warm in bed and have it come on a while before everyone gets up in the morning.
Choose smart technology
Newer model radiators come with thermostatic valves, meaning that you can set them at different temperatures according to your preference. For example, people who work from home have radiators in their home office area set higher than those in the living room.
The latest electric radiators come with smart technology that allows homeowners to control the thermostats using an app. Therefore, if you forgot to turn the heat down before leaving for work, you can do it from anywhere on your phone.
Choose complementary measures
Give your heating system the best chance to act effectively by implementing additional measures to trap warmth indoors. These include double or secondary window glazing to prevent heat from escaping through the glass. Also, use thick drapes at night as an extra layer of insulation.
Ensure no drafts are entering your home via doors and windows that do not seal tightly. Having ceiling and wall insulation also traps heat indoors, allowing your heating system to function at its optimal efficiency levels.