12 Easy Ways to Save On Heating Costs in an Apartment

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12 Easy Ways to Save On Heating Costs in an Apartment

Winters are not only dark and chilly, but they also put a dent in your wallet.

With cold winter winds come high energy bills, thanks to the high costs of heating an apartment.

This brings us to an important question – is there a way to save on heating costs?

Well, there is not one but many ways to bring down your energy bill. In this article, I will cover some easy ways to save on your apartment’s heating cost.

12 Tips to Save On Heating Costs

Saving on heating costs in an apartment is easier than most people would imagine.

Here are some helpful tips on how to bring down heating costs this winter!

Seal Your Windows

You lose more heating through windows than you realize. So, if you are trying to reduce winter heating costs, the first thing you should do is seal the windows.

There are multiple sealants available in the market that you can consider.

However, if you don’t want to spend on a sealant, you can always use some weather tape.

Weather tape is readily available at local hardware stores and does a great job of sealing the windows. Plus, it is easy to use and comes off without any mess or trouble.

Weather tape can withstand high temperatures as well, which means it will help reduce the apartment cooling cost during the summers.

Choose the Right Curtains

Did you know that the curtains you choose for your house have a direct impact on winter heating costs?

Choosing thick curtains can prevent hot air from seeping out through the cracks and spaces in the windows.

It helps keep your home warm and cozy during chilly winters without spiking your energy bill.

Your curtains don’t have to be thermal. They only need to be thick enough to stop the drafts from entering the apartment.

Also read: 6 Tips to Hang Curtains in an Apartment (the right way)

Check Doors for Air Leaks

It is practically impossible to prevent heat loss when you walk in or out through a door. However, you have a problem if you are losing hot air when the door is shut.

So, take the time to check the doors for air leaks. If you find any, use weather tape to seal it up. Here are some pro tips to go about sealing the doors.

Observe the door during the daytime. If there’s a crack or space in the door, you are likely to notice light passing through it.

Use a draft seal on the bottom of the door. It shall keep the hot air from moving out from the door. If a draft seal is unavailable, simply roll an old towel and fix it in front of the space under the door.

Can you believe that something as simple as bolting the door can help reduce heating costs in an apartment?

Yes, you read it right! Locking the door shuts it all the way, sealing up your home in a better way!

Adjust the Airflow

The central heating system can be a bit tricky. It works only when there’s a flow of heat into your rooms.

Therefore, if you don’t have air vents in each room, you should keep the doors open so that your heating unit can work efficiently and keep your apartment warm.

If you notice that some rooms remain consistently cooler as compared to others, you probably need to adjust the vents to redirect more heat into the room.

Let the Sunlight In!

Let Mother Nature help you retain heat and save some cash! In most places, day time temperatures are far higher than the temperature at night.

You can use this to your advantage. Open the curtains or blinds during the day to let in sunlight and warmth inside the house. Close them at night to keep the warm air in.

The best time to open the curtains is when the sun is low in the sky. Let the sunlight in through south-facing windows to heat up your space quickly.

You can even turn down the thermostat during these hours to further reduce the cost of heating your apartment.

Keep Your HVAC or Heating Unit in Top-Notch Condition

Regardless of the type of heating system installed in your house, it is crucial to keep it in top-notch condition.

Failing to provide regular care and maintenance can deteriorate the condition of your HVAC system or heating unit and reduce its performance.

As a result, the heating unit will consume more energy than usual to produce adequate heat.

Plus, it will take a long time to heat up your apartment. Considering everything, investing in regular care and maintenance of the heating unit in your apartment is a highly cost-effective option in the long run.

Use Rugs or Carpet

A cold floor can take up a lot of heat to warm up. A better option is to invest in a carpet or a rug to cover the floor.

It sounds simple but covering the floor can have a huge impact on the overall heating cost. Plus, it will keep your feet warm, cozy, and comfortable as you walk around the apartment.

The rug will act as an extra layer of insulation. You can take additional insulation to the next level by placing a rug pad underneath your rug or carpet.

Follow this tip to add a cozy touch to even the rather chilly areas of the house, including the kitchen, ground-level spaces, and the bathroom.

Also read: Cost to Replace Carpet in Apartment

Plug Up Drafty Holes or Cracks

So, you have sealed the doors and windows but still feel a chilly draft around the house? Well, there may be some drafty holes or cracks that maybe letting the hot air out of the house.

To identify drafty holes and cracks, wet your hands with water and move around the apartment slowly.

You may find cold drafts coming in from the most unexpected spots, including sink plumbing, non-working fireplaces, electrical sockets, etc.

It is advisable to use expanding spray foam to fill such gaps properly. Your landlord will be grateful, and you will successfully keep bugs and critters from entering your apartment.

Rearrange Your Furniture

If you think your heating unit is not working properly or taking too long to heat the apartment, you may want to reconsider your furniture setting.

Many times, homeowners overlook the location of heating vents when setting the furniture. Take a walk around the apartment to make sure the upholstery is not blocking any heating vents.

Rearrange the furniture if you find it too close to a vent or radiator. The best approach is to place the upholstery in the center of the room, particularly during the winters.

Doing so will help you stay comfortable and cozy as the center of the room is typically warmer as compared to the perimeter.

Turn Down the Thermostat

This one’s a no brainer! An easy way to save heating costs in an apartment is to turn the thermostat down.

Don’t fret – we are not telling you to live in freezing temperatures. However, it is always a good idea to turn down the thermostat by a few degrees when you are sleeping or are at work.

Keep in mind that you need to be smart about thermostat settings, as turning the heat down more than 10 degrees for only a few hours can have a counter effect.

Your heating unit will consume too much energy to heat the apartment back up, nullifying the effect of turning down the thermostat.

The Department of Energy recommends setting the thermostat at 68 degrees for maximum energy saving.

Use a Space Heater

Heating the entire house is a waste of energy if you are going to spend most of your time in one room.

Therefore, it is a good idea to invest in a space heater if your apartment heater warms up the entire apartment at once.

While your space heater will also consume energy to keep your preferred room warm, it will still save up a lot of wasted energy.

Add Humidity

Ever noticed how humidity makes the temperature feel warmer in the summertime?

This is because the natural sweat evaporation process, which keeps the body cool, slows down when the air has a high moisture content.

As a result, you feel hotter. Humidity works the same way during winters.

Therefore, adding humidity to the air can help you stay warm and comfortable without turning up the thermostat. You can use a humidifier to keep the environment hot and humid.

An additional benefit of using a humidifier is that it removes the dryness from the air that may cause irritation.

It is particularly helpful in treating dryness of the nose, throat, skin, and lips. Plus, the humid air will ease the symptoms of the common cold and flu!

The Bottom Line

There are several methods that homeowners can employ to reduce winter heating costs.

However, costly projects, like insulating the attic or installing energy-efficient windows, are not always the most feasible options, especially for people who rent apartments.

The good news is that you can achieve the same results and save a substantial amount by following the above-mentioned tips.

These minor tips and tricks can help you save some major cash!

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