Owing a big, luxury home has its perks — you have room for big parties, plenty of storage, and all the extras you want. However, heating costs are outrageous. The more square footage there is in your home, the more it costs to heat. Add vaulted ceilings, and your heating costs can double. If you have a large home and you’re looking for ways to reduce your heating bill, take a look at these four tips.
Buy a More Energy-Efficient Furnace
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One of the best ways to save money on your heating bill is to get a more energy-efficient furnace. If your unit is more than 10 years old, it probably uses more energy than it should and needs to be replaced. Look for a furnace with a high Energy Star rating, and get something that is going to work well for many years. Sometimes it makes sense to own more than one furnace to heat your home more quickly and efficiently. An HVAC professional can help you determine the best option for your home, as well as what size you need.
Only Heat the Rooms You Use
If you have a big home, you probably don’t use every room on a daily basis, For instance, there might be a guest room that only gets used every once in a while or a storage room that you only go in when you’re changing the decorations in your home. If this sounds like you, close the heat vents in the rooms you don’t use and then close the door. That way you aren’t heating square footage that you don’t use. You can also upgrade your heating system with individual thermostats for every room. That way you can choose where you want to have the most heat and where it is not needed.
Upgrade the Insulation in Your Home
Insulation in your walls and attic helps your home retain the heat it has. If you don’t have enough insulation, your heat could be escaping and costing you money. Putting new insulation in your walls can help a lot, but it is costly. If you’re looking for something cheaper, blowing a new layer of insulation in your attic can do wonders for your heating bill. It’s makes a great DIY project, too. Just rent a blower from your local hardware store.
Check for Cracks and Air Leaks in Your Home
There are lots of places where heat can escape from your home. All of those places are costing you money. That’s why it’s important to check for air leaks around doors, windows, and everywhere else to make sure that you’re not spending more on heating than you need to. Seal everything you can find with caulking.
Of course, if you’ve already tried everything on this list, it never hurts to do more baking to save money on heating costs. The heat from your kitchen oven will help, so cook something at home instead of eating out. Do you have any other ideas that would help others? Leave a comment below.