Top 7 Tips for a Warm Winter Home Without Blowing the Energy Bill

This winter has gotten off to a chilly start, with parts of eastern Australia suffering through the coldest June temperatures in decades.

Like most people, you don’t want to spend the winter season huddled indoors, shivering under a pile of blankets. But the high cost of heating can make it challenging to keep even a well-insulated home cosy during the frostiest months of the year.

Fortunately, there are a few simple and practical ways to winterproof your house without breaking the bank. Here are our top tips for renters and homeowners on how to keep your house warm and toasty this winter season.

Get your heating system serviced regularly

One of the best ways to enjoy reliable and cost-effective heating during winter is to perform regular maintenance checks on your gas heating system.

This means having your gas heating system serviced regularly by a professional like Gas Safe Plumbing. We’ll be able to check for any blockages or leaks, making sure that your system is running safely and at peak efficiency (i.e., heat is flowing through as intended and is not being wasted).

We can also provide preventative maintenance to ensure your heating system doesn’t experience any issues in the future, helping you stay warm this winter and the next.

Control the thermostat

During the winter weather, it can be tempting to crank up the thermostat in an effort to stay warm. However, this can quickly lead to sky-high energy bills. Instead, it is recommended that you keep your thermostat set between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius.

If you find yourself feeling the winter chill, try some other methods instead, like rugging up in warm clothes or making yourself a hot cup of tea.

Close off vents and doors in unused rooms

Once you’ve set the thermostat, another key thing to consider is how to keep heat in a room. To prevent yourself from wasting energy, close off vents in any rooms that are not being used. This will reduce heat loss by redirecting the flow of warm air towards the rooms you are actually occupying.

In addition, closing off doors in unused rooms can help to protect against chilly drafts and cold air, making your home more comfortable overall.

Install thermal curtains or window insulation

In winter, many of us find it difficult to keep our homes warm. This is a common issue due to the lack of winter insulation and poor thermal performance of typical Australian dwellings.

While increasing your home’s wall or under-floor insulation could be a viable long-term strategy, an alternative solution to preventing heat loss and minimising your power bill right now is to improve your window’s efficiency. This could be done by installing thermal curtains or simply covering your windows with heavy blankets during cold nights.

Reduce your hot water consumption

Another way to reduce your household energy bill is to use hot water wisely. Try taking shorter showers or installing an energy-efficient shower head. You can also turn the temperature down on your water heater to reduce wasted heat.

Turn on reverse cycle air conditioner

If you have a reverse-cycle air conditioner, you can use it to heat your home instead of turning on your gas ducted heating. Reverse-cycle air conditioners extract heat from the outside and bring it inside, and they don't require warm weather to operate. 

Reverse-cycle air conditioners use less energy than traditional heating systems that generate their own heat, meaning you can save money on your energy bills.

Electric heaters can also be more cost-effective than gas ducted heating, depending on how you use them. If you have a particularly cold room in your house, investing in a space heater can be a good way of keeping warm without having to heat the whole house. Just make sure to turn off the space heater when you leave the room to avoid wasting energy.

Monitor your energy usage and bills

It's important to monitor your energy usage and bills to make sure you're being accurately charged for your consumption. Regularly monitoring your energy costs can also help you research other providers and compare offers to ensure you're getting the best value for your money.

Staying up to date with different government programs is also recommended – for example, the Victorian Government is currently offering a one-off $250 energy payment to households, so take advantage of the savings while you can!

By following these easy steps, you can fully enjoy the comforts of a warm winter home without worrying about costs. So don’t wait until next winter – start your journey to a warmer home today by getting your heating serviced by Gas Safe Plumbing. Contact us to book an inspection.