The holiday bills are rolling in and you’re looking for ways to save money. Have you taken a hard look at your heating habits? Heating can account for almost a third of your home utility bills, and it may be tempting to drop the furnace settings and shiver through the rest of winter even though you’re indoors. Fortunately, you have Ernst Heating & Cooling of Metro East, Illinois, on your side. We’ve compiled some money-saving tips that will cut your bills, not your sense of well-being and contentment.
Bundle up for comfort
This may come as a surprise to your teenaged children, but dressing accordingly for the season can make a big difference in how warm you feel. Pull out the layers, starting with a cozy turtleneck and finishing with a sweater or light jacket you can put on and remove according to how you’re feeling. You don’t have to look like a marshmallow as you move through your house, but you also should probably keep the shorts and tank tops in the dresser unless you’re one of the lucky ones who escapes to a tropical destination in the winter.
Heat yourself before you turn up the heat at home
Capture your body heat with blankets and throws that let you snuggle up during colder months. You can even take things a step further with electric blankets, heated throws and heated mattress pads. Space heaters are also an option when you’re spending most of your time in one room, because you’re only paying to heat that small space. Remember to never leave a space heater unattended.
Just add water
No, we’re not talking about living in a spa, although the idea sounds pretty cozy right now. The dry winter air is doing you no favors when you’re trying to stay warm at home. Dry air facilitates sweat evaporation, which leads to feeling colder. Humid air, on the other hand, lets the heat stay on your skin. It also keeps your skin and sinuses moisturized and comfortable. A portable humidifier can handle one room, but a whole-house humidifier controls humidity in every corner of your house. Ernst Heating & Cooling can help you select the right model.
Use your curtains judiciously
Your draperies are more than just fabulous interior design accessories. They also insulate your home and keep the heat from escaping through the windows. Keep curtains closed at night to add an extra protective barrier against the winter wind. During the day, make sure they’re open to let in the sunlight that can warm your home without sending a bill.
Stay in the kitchen
Before we talk about huddling around the stove, remember, the oven is never intended to be a heating device. Gas ovens can poison you or your family, and electric ovens aren’t especially efficient at heating a room. However, if you’re already making the evening meal, you can enjoy a little extra ambient heat while you’re in prep mode. Encourage the kids to do their homework at the kitchen table, and keep the kitchen lights on after dinner so the whole family can enjoy the residual warmth.
Get moving
Sure, it’s tempting to find a spot on the sofa and stay snuggled under your favorite blanket. But movement is not only good for your health and mood, it can also contract your muscles and increase your body heat.
Ensure efficient heating throughout your home
If you’re noticing extraordinarily high heating bills, an inefficient heating system may be to blame. Ernst Heating & Cooling can pinpoint any problems that are forcing the system to work harder and rely on excess energy. Our trained technicians can help you understand the benefits of regular maintenance and give you advice on when it’s time to upgrade rather than pay for expensive repairs. Fight back against winter’s chill with Ernst Heating & Cooling. Nobody should be shivering at home when they have Ernst on their side. If you’re furnace isn’t cooperating, call Ernst now at at 618-217-1836 to schedule a service call or request an appointment online at https://www.ernstheating.com/contact_us/. Ernst Heating & Cooling brings more than 70 years of heating and cooling experience to Hamel and the surrounding Metro East area.