Winter is just around the corner, and when it’s cold outside, there is nothing better than relaxing in a warm and cozy home. Keeping your home warm requires maintaining the appropriate temperature and maintaining the rooms you spend the most time in the warmest while keeping the energy cost down. Unfortunately, while trying to keep their home warm, some people do many things that shouldn’t be done while their heater is on. Here are a few things you should never do while you are heating your home.
Turn the Heat Down at Night
One of the most common things people do when trying to save money on their energy costs is turning the thermostat down at night. Although this does seem like an excellent way to save on energy use, it’s not always the case. The reality is that turning down the thermostat at night means that when you wake up in the morning, it will be colder, which means the heater will have to work harder to heat the house back up. Not only will this put added stress on the heating system, but the continual fluctuations in temperature may lead to an increase in your energy costs.
Don’t Close the Curtains
It’s common to keep the curtains closed when it’s cloudy and gloomy outside, especially during the winter and many people mistakenly assume that keeping the curtains closed will help keep the heat in. The fact is, keeping the curtains closed may cause your home to feel colder and uncomfortable. Natural sunlight, even when it’s cloudy outside, can help to add warmth to your home, so leave the blinds and curtains open as often as possible during the day to let the natural heat in, and the best news is it may even help you save money on your energy costs.
Don’t Heat Your Home When You’re Away Long Term
Many holidays occur during the winter, and it’s when people leave their winter homes to live in warmer climates. One of the most common things people do when they are gone for a while is to leave the thermostat set at the temperature they would use if home. Leaving your thermostat set at a comfortable temperature when you’re away will only cost you in energy that you aren’t using. One of the best investments you can make is in a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat will allow you to keep the house warm enough to prevent the risk of concerns, such as frozen pipes, and it will save you a great deal of money.
Preventing Risks When Heating Your Home
Along with knowing what not to do when your heater is on, it’s also essential to understand what is safe and what isn’t safe when heating your home. If you use space heaters to warm your home, it is vital to not leave them on while you are away from home or sleeping. Space heaters are ideal for heating small spaces, but there are risks involved when using them. It’s important to only use an approved space heater with fully intact electrical cords and do not place the space heater on a rug, near the furniture, or the curtains. It would help if you never used your oven for heating your home. The oven is designed to cook food-not heat your home. Leaving the oven on, especially at high heat for hours, puts undue stress on the heating element, which may lead to damages, and if you have a gas stove, there is a risk of carbon monoxide leaks should the oven go out while you have it on. So, the safest thing to do is not to use your oven to heat your home.
The most beneficial thing you can do when it comes to heating your home is to have the furnace inspected at least once a year by a professional technician. The technician will be able to determine if any damaged parts should be repaired or replaced before turning the furnace on, and they will be able to offer advice about the safest and most efficient way to heat your home.
