Cold weather can be a thorn in your side when it comes to spending hard-earned money on heating cost. Depending on where you live, the amount of money that it takes to heat a house in the winter can run in the thousands. There are some things you can do to stop old-man-winter from entering your house like insulation, weather stripping, caulking, and replacing outdated windows or doors. On the other hand, you still need a heat source to heat your home. Below are three cost-efficient ways to heat your home while keeping some of that money in your pocket, where it belongs.
1. Mini Splits
A mini split is a ductless heating system that makes a great add-on for homes that don’t have a ducted heating system like radiant panels, radiant hot water, and space heaters. Although electric and kerosene space heaters do the job here, a propane space heater is a more logical choice for most homeowners. The mini split works well for additions, garages or in situations where extending ductwork isn’t feasible.
Mini splits work by utilizing an indoor air unit and an outdoor condenser/compressor. A special conduit, which houses the refrigerant tubing, power cable, condensate drain, and suction tubing, links the two units together. The main benefit of a mini split system is their small size. Additionally, they provide flexibility for heating or zoning and cooling separate rooms in your home. It’s always best to purchase an “Energy Star” compliant system and hire a professional contractor who has experience installing mini split systems.
2. Wood Stoves
Wood stoves have been around for centuries, and they provide a cost efficient way to heat your home. Wood is an affordable fuel source. It cost less on average per BTU than gas, electricity or oil. It’s not uncommon for homeowners who strategically place wood stoves in their home to save hundreds of dollars in heating costs each year. A wood stove offers flexibility, it can be installed anywhere in the home as long as there is a way to vent the pipe outside. Strategically placing a few wood stoves in your home ccould potentially replace a modern central heating system.
Wood stoves also offer a few more advantages than traditional heating systems. If you have ever experienced a power outage in the winter, you understand how valuable a heat source can be. A dependable wood stove will keep your home warm, regardless of a power outage. Another benefit that gets overlooked is the ability to cook with the stove. With some practice in cookware placement and temperature adjustment, you’ll discover that the top of your wood stove is ideal for warming and cooking a wide range of meals.
3. Pellet Stoves
Pellet stoves are very cost efficient and provide exceptional heating. The quality of the heat works on the same principal of a radiant heating system. It heats areas in your home more efficiently and faster than forced air heating systems that require ductwork throughout your entire house. The heat from a pellet stove radiates from the top of the unit as well as all sides, distributing heat in all directions.
Pellet stoves when compared to using fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are more eco-friendly. When the pellets are burning in the stove, they don’t add extra carbon dioxide into the environment, making them “carbon-neutral.” When pellets are in their natural state as wood, trees will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; therefore, during combustion, an eco-friendly balanced is maintained.
Additional Tips for Keeping Your Home Warm
You can use curtains to keep your home warmer during the winter. The sun produces free heat. Opening your curtains during the day will help lower heating cost. Closing your curtains at night will act as an extra layer of insulation, keeping your rooms warmer overnight. Additionally, don’t block your heat source with objects or furniture. No matter the heat source, you want the hot air to circulate freely.
