Savings Tips for Heating
The average heating costs for a standard household during the winter season was about $986 as of 2010. If you've been looking for ways to make cuts in your personal budget, this is one place where you can start. It is possible to enact energy-saving initiatives in your home starting today to save yourself some money in the short and long run.
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Heating Methods
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The average home uses one or more of three popular heating methods. One source is heating oil -- homes equipped with oil furnaces and boilers can use this type of energy source. Electric heat is another way of keeping the home warm. Finally, customers with gas heating units can also use propane or natural gas as the energy source to generate heat in their homes.
Cheapest Method
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The least expensive home heating method is using a geothermal heat pump (central air system). The heat pump operates using electricity and costs little to operate compared to other methods, but is expensive to install. On the other hand, an oil or gas furnace is more expensive but relatively inexpensive to install. Compare the money you'll save over time by installing a geothermal heat pump to the cost of installation as quoted by a heating service provider to decide if it will save you money.
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Seal Windows and Doors
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Walk around your home with a feather. Place the feather near windows and doors to see if the feather moves. If so, you have a draft in those areas that could be costing you in heat energy expenses. Purchase a plastic insulation kit from your local home improvement store to cover all windows to eliminate the draft. Purchase door sweeps to attach to the bottom of all your entry doors to keep cool air out and warm air in the home.
Space Heaters
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Another option for saving money on heat is to purchase energy-efficient space heaters. These small, portable units will only heat up a small section of a home, but if you spend most of your time in that room it can save you money. Simply turn down the other heat source to low and use a space heater in the room where you spend the most time to save money.
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