While home-buying trends come and go, one that has been quite consistent is the admiration that many buyers have for older homes. Popular historic homes inspire house hunters to find a piece of history to call their own; however, sometimes older homes come with a special set of challenges, especially when it comes to heating costs. If you recently purchased an older home, there are several tips you can keep in mind to avoid high heating bills when the temperature starts to drop.
1. Install a Programmable Thermostat
Because heating an older home sometimes costs more, you may be tempted to completely turn off your thermostat when you leave the house in the morning to avoid heating an empty house. However, this could end up costing you much more in the long run because not only will it take the house a great deal of time to heat up again during the evening, cold temperatures may cause your pipes to freeze or burst. One solution to this problem is to install a programmable thermostat.
A fully programmable thermostat can help you keep costs low because it can give you greater control of how you heat your older home. On colder days, when the temperature remains below freezing, you can program your unit to maintain the temperature you built up overnight or lower it on warmer days. This can help you avoid frozen pipes or coming home to a frigid house in the evening.
2. Use Fireplaces Sparingly
If your old home includes a fireplace in the living room, you may want to use it sparingly or only light on those evenings when you want to feel cozy. In most cases, fireplaces do not have the ability to heat large spaces on their own and usually cannot replace a central heater. Bedrooms and other smaller spaces may benefit from the heat a fireplace gives off. If you do decide to use them in these rooms and have young children in the home, practice fireplace safety to avoid accidents and fires.
3. Take Advantage of the Sun
When it comes to saving money on heating costs for your old home, you may be overlooking a free resource: the sun. Instead of running your furnace all day, pull back your drapes and open blinds to warm rooms in the late morning and early afternoon, when the sun’s rays are strongest. When the sun starts to set, use heavy winter drapes on your windows to help trap the warmth inside.
4. Give Your Heat Pump a Tune-Up
Just as you might give your car a tune-up once a year to make sure it is running at peak performance, calling in a company like Air Control home services to give your heat pump system a complete inspection can help ensure it runs correctly all year long. A system that runs efficiently may help heat your old home more quickly and lower your energy bills. This kind of preventative service may also catch issues with your furnace that could lead to more serious breakdowns when you need it to work the most.
The charm and beauty of an older home is hard to resist, but it often comes with several heating concerns. However, the more heating tips you collect, the more time and money you can save.
