Did you know that 30% of all energy used to heat and cool homes goes out of the window?
Did you know that a single pane window loses 20 times as much heat as the same area in an adjacent well-insulated wall?
Now you know these facts, you no longer have to wonder why your heating bill gets so expensive this time of year; our windows are the gateway to the outside world and depending on their glazing, they can lose a lot of heat and even let in cold drafts.
You shouldn’t just accept this as a thing that happens though, you shouldn’t have to try and not use your heating throughout Winter for fear of racking up a huge bill after it has ended. Instead, there are a few simple solutions to reduce your heating bill and here are 5 ways that you can do it.
1. Seal any air leaks
The first logical step to take when you are looking to reduce your heating bill is to check your home for any drafts. If you find any air leaks then you should seal them. The most common air leak problem occurs through the doorframe of your front door. By simply adding weather stripping or removing the casing and adding foam sealant in between the door frame and the frame of your house, you could save yourself a lot of money.
2. Insulate your windows with window film
The windows of your home are the main culprit for energy loss as they let around 30-40% of heat escape straight through the glass. Consider installing 3M™ Thinsulate™ Window Film to your windows to improve their existing glazing (up to 90%!); the film is clear, inexpensive, and it’s quick to apply. By trapping the heat indoors, window film reduces energy consumption and therefore energy costs – it is said to be the most cost-effective option to reduce your heating bill every month!
Read more about insulation window film: Stay Warm this Winter with Insulating Window Film , insert other blogs
3. Insulate your water heater and pipes
Many people don’t think of this but insulating your water heater and pipes is another way that you can conserve heat and reduce your costs. If your pipes are running through non-insulated areas or your water heater is located somewhere cool such as the garage, then you are losing heat. For your water heater, you can purchase an insulated water heater jacket that will do the trick. With your pipes, however, you will have to consult a manufacturer first and get approval to wrap them in heat tape which contains a thermostat, foam or fibreglass for you to control the temperature.
4. Turn down the water heater
Another way you can reduce your heating bill is by lowering the temperature of the water in your water heater. It won’t feel like a big difference in temperature for you but every 10 degrees reduction can potentially save you 3-5%. Make sure not to reduce the heating too much as your water needs to be between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any harmful bacteria. Whenever you’re away, you can also just switch off the water heater completely.
5. Use vents and ceiling fans wisely
Last but not least is being smart with how you heat your home. A well-powered heating vent is able to circulate a considerable amount of hot air in approximately one hour so make sure you close the vent after the room has been adequately heated. This prevents heat loss through the vent keeping your home warmer for longer. Another great thing to do is to use your ceiling fan. Many of us think that fans are only appropriate for the Summer but that couldn’t be more wrong. Fans rotate counterclockwise in the Summer to push the air downward and keep us cool. In the Winter, however, we need to use the function that makes them rotate clockwise. This direction pushes the air upward allowing the warm air to circulate throughout the whole house!
No more worrying! Reduce your heating bill yourself
You don’t have to sit around worrying about how much heating your house is going to cost you any more, use a combination of these 5 methods above and you can save yourself a lot of energy and money whilst increasing your comfort and giving yourself peace of mind!
We at Applied Products offer one of the widest ranges of high-performance architectural window films in the UK…
If you need any help or advice on what types of window films are best for your house, company or office, don’t hesitate to get in touch; we’d love to help! Applied Products has a large range of specialist window films and as partners with The 3M Company, we can help you transform your room into a comfortable and productive space whilst also making it much more energy efficient.
Applied Products – [email protected] / 01792 895730
Want to know just how effective 3M™ Thinsulate™ Window Film is? We have an infrared imaging thermometer which takes pictures of your glass windows with and without the insulating film. You can see for yourself how the film causes an increase in glass temperature!
