Because they frequently result in increased energy bills, freezing winter temperatures can be worrisome for homeowners. Although the winters in New Hampshire might be tough, your energy costs don’t have to be. Here are some tips on how to reduce heating costs in New Hampshire by 10-20% so you can enjoy the winter without stressing about excessive bills.
How To Reduce Heating Costs in New Hampshire: 6 Tips
It’s important to make sure we aren’t spending a fortune with our heating appliances because the winters in New Hampshire are long and cold. The 6 key actions you should take to guarantee improved energy efficiency in your home each winter are listed below:
- Practice smart thermostat setting to save 10-20%
- Know how to reduce gas heating costs specifically
- Additionally, know how to reduce oil heating costs
- Don’t forget about water temperature
- Watch for energy leaks in your home
- Close The Curtains
- Maintain your appliances to get the most out of them each winter
Best Thermostat Practices
Knowing how to set your thermostat correctly and when to lower it during the winter is a terrific way to conserve electricity. When you are at home in the winter, setting your thermostat to 68 degrees is the best option.
In addition, lowering your thermostat when necessary is a smart method to save electricity. You can cut your heating bills by up to 10% if you lower it by 10 degrees at night. Take advantage of the eight hours every day that you and your family may be away from home for school or work. You can save your energy costs by another 10% year-round if you lower the thermostat by 10 degrees during those eight hours. For energy savings, making that a daily practice is highly beneficial.
Consider purchasing a smart thermostat if all of this seems a little too overwhelming for you. These thermostats can set the most energy-efficient temperature in your home without you having to move a muscle thanks to features like timers and sensors. You could save even more money as a result of this!
How To Reduce Gas Heating Costs
If you are wondering how to reduce gas heating costs specifically, one of the best ways is by switching gas providers. There’s a good chance you’re paying more than necessary if you’ve been on the same plan for a while. Analyze all the available tariffs using a price comparison website, then decide what to do. You may be able to save a lot on your gas bill!
How To Reduce Oil Heating Costs
One of the best ways to reduce oil heating costs specifically is by installing a smart oil gauge. You receive information about the amount of oil your home heating system is burning each hour from a smart oil gauge. Additionally, it may display the typical fuel consumption required by your heating system on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Keep an eye out for these trends to determine when it takes the most oil and the least amount of fuel to heat your home.
Watch Your Water Heater, Too
If you’re wondering how to reduce heating costs in New Hampshire’s cold winter, it’s important to think about water temperature. You can save money by doing your laundry in cold water and by gently lowering the water heater’s temperature setting. With a virtually unnoticeable difference in comfort, lowering it to 120 (rather than 140) can save up to $400 a year.
Check Your Home for Energy Leaks
Are you aware that there are tiny openings in your house that let air escape? These are typically located around your doors and windows, where up to 33% of the heat in a regular house is lost. Not just windows and doors need to be properly sealed. In addition, pay attention to baseboards, outlets, and hatches.
Locate those gaps, find some caulk, and fill them in! You might be able to reduce your annual heating and cooling costs by 10–20%. Weatherstripping your windows and/or doors is another approach to stop air leaks. There are various types of weather-stripping materials, including felt, metal, and vinyl. Adding weather stripping around your windows might reduce your annual energy costs by 5–10%. You might save even more money if you use it on your doors as well!
Close The Curtains
There are several quicker and easier techniques that can help reduce heat loss from your home in addition to working on your property. Closing the curtains is one of them. By doing this, you can prevent losing up to 10% of the heat in a room. By placing your curtains directly in front of the window, you can increase this percentage by 25%. In contrast, if the sun is out, you should open your curtains and/or blinds. By letting the sun’s rays do their thing, you’ll be able to generate more heat. Keep them closed on gloomy days, at night, or in darker rooms.
Get Your Appliances Professionally Maintained
This is one of the best ways to reduce heating costs in New Hampshire. Make sure to keep your heating equipment clean in between visits with a professional if you want it to last. The best method to do this is to regularly check and replace your filter. Your furnace will have to work harder if your filter is dirty (not to mention dirty filters negatively impact your indoor air quality). Make sure you are aware of the specifications for your particular model and if a simple cleaning or a complete replacement is required.
However, there is only so much you can do by yourself. It’s important to have a professional take a look at your heating system before it goes into heavy use each winter.
A yearly inspection of your heating system is advised by HVAC professionals to ensure that it lasts a long time and saves you money on repairs and the installation of new units. Never put off having a professional check your system because doing so can stop problems in their tracks!
Live Free Heating Cooling Electric brings top-notch 15-point maintenance checks to the New Hampshire region. Get in touch with us for a free estimate today! (terms apply)