Inexpensive Heating Options
It seems that every year heating costs get unbearably high, and everyone starts looking for unusual alternatives to heat their home and cut their bills. Luckily, there are a few ways to actually accomplish this, and they only need a little work. However, these extra tips will be useless if you are not using common sense to keep your home warm. Make sure you are locking your windows, using draft excluders under doors, and maintaining your central heating units and heating ducts. Does this Spark an idea?
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Insulate
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Most people only have around six inches of insulation in their attic. Your attic can have up to 24 inches, however, which will do a better job of keeping the heat in your home. Similarly you can also insulate the ceiling of your basement. Both of these processes can be done by yourself and will be cheaper than paying a company to do it for you, as the materials are affordable.
Solar Heat
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Although solar panels can be expensive, there are multiple ways of harnessing solar energy to heat spaces in your home. One such option is the so-called "Heat Grabber." This heating tool uses an insulation board made of fiberglass but surrounded by thick foil. The heat grabber requires a little handiwork to put together, but it is both inexpensive and relatively easy. The utility simply faces south (or north in the Southern hemisphere) and is angled to correctly catch the rays of sunlight.
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Wood Pellet Stoves
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This option is somewhat controversial as it requires some calculation to determine whether it is actually cost-effective in your home. Aside from the initial cost of the stove, which may come in a more functional form or in a decorative style, this also involves figuring out the running costs. This simply requires calculating how much you pay for heating at the moment, and then comparing that with the cost of the stove and pellets. Similarly, you must refill wood pellet stoves often, sometimes daily.
Seal Windows
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Although simply replacing older windows might be the better option, there are ways to cut the energy waste that windows can cause. You can do this by weather-stripping the windows and installing sash locks. There are also window-sealing inserts that can be installed to reduce drafts. These kits do not often do not take long to install with a hair dryer.
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References
- Photo Credit freezing boy image by Indigo Fish from Fotolia.com
