Keep Your Heating Bills Low During the Holidays with These 5 Tips

The end of the year holidays are a busy time with many friends and family traveling and visiting. The more guests you have, the higher your utility needs will be. You will need to keep everyone warm by keeping the temperature up - guests may forget an extra sweater and blankets run out at a certain point. The added people will also add to the cooking that needs to be done. 

All of these additional strains on your utilities will mean your energy costs will rise. Avoid a high heating bill so you can relax with family and friends. Follow our heat-saving tips to keep your energy bill down during the holidays. 

1. Use Your Blinds 

The sun is an energy source you don’t have to pay for but can still use for heat. During the day, make sure to open your blinds so you can let in the warm sunlight. Once the sun pours in the windows, it will heat your home. On the other side, make sure to close your blinds at night. Your blinds can slow any cold night air that blows through your windows. Your closed blinds will also help trap the warm air inside. 

2. Keep the Oven Closed

Many cooks get tempted to open the oven and check the holiday ham or turkey and release the wonderful smells. But consider this, each time you open the oven, even a crack, the temperature inside can drop by 10, 20, even 50 degrees in seconds. Afterward, it would take more energy to replace the lost heat. Try using the oven light and window to check on dishes in the process of cooking. 

3. The Right Pan for the Burner

For cooking on top of your stove, make sure your pans and pots match the burner you use. A small pan on a larger burner will lose and waste heat. On the other side, a large pot on a small burner will take longer to heat and may inefficiently cook your food. 

4. Fill the Dishwasher

Dishwashers are more water-efficient than handwashing. Plus, running the dishwasher allows you to spend your time with your guests. Make sure to rinse dishes with cold water before putting them in the dishwasher. Also, fill the dishwasher instead of running a half-full machine. 

5. Schedule Maintenance or an Inspection

The worst-case would be your heating system shutting down when you have guests visiting. Running your system inefficiently will cost you more money, especially over the holidays. To prevent both of these problems, have an experienced furnace inspector check out your home, such as the knowledgeable technicians at Heaney Plumbing & Heating. We are a family-owned business that has helped homeowners in the tri-county area efficiently heat their homes since 1969. 

Give our quality team at Heaney Plumbing & Heating a call today at (586) 649-6300 to make sure your home is all set.