My husband and I have spent a lot of time consulting with an architect. After living in our cramped, starter home for the past 11 years, we were finally ready to make some needed changes to it. We have added an extra 600 square feet of space onto our house. Before the construction began, we finalized the plans for our new heating and air conditioning unit with our HVAC contractor. Because our home was going to be substantially bigger than it is now, we purchased a larger HVAC system. We also installed a new, digital thermostat inside my home. On this blog, I hope you will discover the best types of HVAC units to buy for mid-size homes. Enjoy!
Nobody wants a high heating bill, but many of the tips you commonly see for saving on heating cost a lot to implement. If you don't have a lot of cash to dedicate to your heat-saving endeavors, here are some ways to save on heating for less than five dollars.
Make a door snake.
A door snake is a long, snake-like pillow that you place in front of your exterior door to prevent cold air from seeping in beneath it. Especially if you have an older home with a poorly sealed door, you'll save a lot on heat by using a door snake. While you might be able to find a door snake at a discount store for less than $5, you can also make your own.
Buy a piece of cheap cotton material and cut it so that it's as long as the width of you door plus 12 inches. It needs to be 12 inches wide. Use a glue gun to seal the long edges of the material together, forming a tube. Use a rubber band to hold one end closed. Then, stuff the snake with whatever scraps you have laying around your home. Material scraps, old socks, and torn up old towels work well. Close the other end with a second rubber band, and place your snake in front of your door.
Shut your curtains.
Assuming you already have curtains, this tip costs a grand total of $0! When you close your curtains, you trap the cold air that seeps in through your windows between the curtains and the window, preventing it from seeping into your room. Even sheer curtains will trap some heat, so taking a minute to close them will pay off.
Change your furnace filter.
Furnace filters cost only a few dollars at most hardware stores. Unless you're really allergy-prone, there's really no reason to buy the more expensive ones. While the filter's main function is to keep your air clean, if they get too clogged, they make it harder for your furnace to blow air through the ducts, which raises your heating bills. Spend a few dollars on a new filter, and you'll save on heat (and also have cleaner air).
Cook at home.
If you're used to eating out, this tip might actually save you money on food as well as heating. When the temperature drops, cook your meals at home in the oven. Then, leave the oven open after you use it (and it's turned off) to let the extra heat escape and warm up your room. Your home will feel toastier, and your furnace won't have to work as hard to heat it up.
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