Even when you are trying to save energy, you may be making some mistakes that are costing you big time.
Winter is upon us and while curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book sounds pretty much like the coziest thing you could do, you may start dreading the winter months soon if the utility bills break your bank.
According to Energy Star, heating accounts for almost 30% of a typical utility bill. Saving energy is essential for your finances. The problem is that even when you are trying to save energy, you may be making some mistakes that are costing you big time.
Closing Doors and Vents
One of the biggest and costly misconceptions about saving energy is that you can conserve heat by closing the vents and doors to the rooms that don’t need to be heated. Unfortunately, that’s not the way heaters work.
A heater pulls air from the inside of your house, heats it, and then returns it. If there is not enough airflow, the heater will have to work harder to pull the air.
Moreover, the heater will push the air into the closed vents, leading to pressure building up in the ducts. Over time, this added pressure can shorten the heater’s lifespan.
You’re Not Setting the Thermostat Correctly
It may make sense to crank up the thermostat if your home is freezing and you want to heat it quickly. However, there is a problem with this.
The thermostat activates the heater and then shuts it off when it reached the set temperature. Cranking it up will only make the heater work harder and for longer, inflating your utility bill and causing wear and tear.
You Are Using Multiple Sources of Heat at Once
If the heater is not warming the house as fast or as much as you would like, you may decide to turn the fireplace on too. While it may seem like a good idea to use all your sources of heat at once to reach a comfortable temperature, it’s generally more cost-effective to alternate them.
You’re Using the Heater at the Wrong Times
By using a smart thermostat and creating a schedule, you can save as much as 10% on your utility bills. Returning to a cold home is not desirable, but that doesn’t mean that you should blast the heater nonstop. Instead, set a lower temperature when no one is home or when you are sleeping.
Are You Making Any of These Costly Mistakes?
You may understand that if you want to save energy, you should seal the doors and windows to avoid allowing hot air to escape and inspect the air filters regularly. But there also are the little things that you may not be paying attention to that can cost you a lot of money.