The Cheapest Way To Heat Your Home This Winter
With rising energy prices persisting across the globe (via GridBeyond), consumers are rightfully worried about how they will heat their homes this winter while maintaining other critical elements of their budget. An increase in the cost of heating might not be a big deal for one family, but another may struggle to put food on the table on a nightly basis in order to keep the house at a comfortable temperature and remain healthy and secure.
Electricity and other forms of heating power are critical elements of property management during the wintertime for millions of Americans. Keeping your place warm will help you focus on the tasks you have at hand and stay healthy and happy. Home Logic reports that a cold home can lead to increased levels of depression, illness, and all sorts of other issues. Whether you're working with an incredibly tight budget or simply want to save on the continuously rising cost of this basic home amenity, finding a cheap means of heating your house is critical. With these features in mind, keeping your abode heated and comfortable doesn't have to be a hugely expensive endeavor or a pipe dream.
Natural gas is the least expensive way
A natural gas system will heat your home for the lowest overall cost, per the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association. It is a more environmentally friendly way of managing home heating than many other sources as well. Unlike coal power or electricity produced through the use of gasoline or diesel generators, natural gas takes less effort to extract from the ground, emits less carbon dioxide when utilized, and doesn't require the same kind of heavy refinement that other petroleum products demand, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
However, one caveat to keep in mind when thinking about energy costs is the potential charges you'll incur to make this switch. Just because natural gas offers the cheapest energy price doesn't mean that it will be the least expensive way to heat your home in particular. If you don't already have a gas hookup, then you might be looking at a large bill to make this swap in an effort to take advantage of reduced pricing. According to NEADA, natural gas will cost roughly $376 less than electric heating over the course of the winter of 2022-2023. If the price to convert your home's heating solution is higher than this figure, sticking with what you already have will provide the lowest expenditure in the short term. Of course, once you make the switch, you can take advantage of the reduced price for every subsequent winter.
A combination of smart strategies can also help
Whether you use natural gas in your home or not, there are certain strategies that you can employ that will help reduce your heating costs throughout the winter months. For example, keeping your air conditioning system set to a slightly lower temperature will help diminish the burden of your heating and AC bill during these high usage months. It's also important to maintain routine control over temperature changes on the thermostat, with an equilibrium temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and a reduction at night or while you are out (via Constellation). The U.S. Department of Energy notes that this strategy can save you as much as 10% every year on your heating bill.
It can also be beneficial to use your fireplace if you have one. It's possible to find cheap wood or even scrap wood for free that can be burned during particularly cold days or evenings. Keeping this material on hand to light a fire can help you get through the worst months of the winter season. With intelligent fire-building approaches, according to Fireplace Universe, you can create a lasting augmentation to the heating practices in your home and improve the quality of life that everyone in your family experiences in the process.