Here are the 7 best Ways to Optimize Room Heater Use for Lower Energy Bills. Know the tips and tricks to save money this winter.
During the colder seasons, a room heater is a must-have for warmth, comfort, and a cosy environment. However, with inefficient usage of room heaters, you might have to pay huge energy bills.
But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice comfort to save some money. Instead, you must learn to use room heaters more efficiently. In this article, we’ve covered the best strategies to use your room heater without energy bills burning holes in your pocket!
All room heaters aren’t built equal. Some are so that no matter how much you try, you won’t be able to save much on energy bills.
So, you must invest in a room heater with whole-room heating technology using integrated fans. Get one that only heats rooms and not the entire house, as that unnecessarily consumes more energy.
These ensure that no matter where you are in your room, you’ll feel equally warm. So, whether you’re extremely close to the heater or far away, there will hardly be any difference.
You won’t have to increase the heater temperature to feel cosy based on your position in the room. Thus, you will save energy by not cranking up the heater often.
A reliable room heater will also have an adjustable thermostat. With this feature, you can adjust a specific temperature for your room.
The thermostat monitors the room temperature and turns off if the room temperature is higher than desired.
If the thermostat notices the room temperature is less than the desired amount, it automatically turns on. It ensures optimum temperature according to your exact needs without energy waste.
Modern room heaters also have auto-shutoff and timer features to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
Auto-shutoff is especially useful for safety and efficiency. This feature turns off the heater when it overheats or gets knocked over. Thus, it can prevent house fires due to room heaters.
You can also set specific times when the thermostat needs to turn on and off to ensure it operates when you need it.
For instance, adjust the thermostat to warm the room right around the evening and turn it off in the morning or at night so there’s no energy consumption while you’re away.
Another useful way is to reduce the heater temperature by 1-2 degrees. By following this, you won’t sacrifice your comfort excessively while reducing your energy bills noticeably.
Of course, you might feel a bit colder due to the energy drop. However, you can just layer up with winter wear and blankets, wear slippers, or apply heating pads.
Even if you use room heaters with whole-room heat circulation technology, you must be mindful of where you place the appliance.
Make sure the appliance is far away from the walls, and there’s no obstruction in front of it. Especially avoid placing it under tables and desks or any enclosed spots.
Otherwise, the small space will trap the heat, and the motor won’t be able to circulate the heat properly. This will reduce its overall efficiency, consuming more energy to offer less heat.
Keep it in an area without any objects around it. The best position is the centre of your room or areas with poor insulation, i.e., near a drafty window or colder corner.
Another efficient way to save energy is to ensure all rooms where you’ll use the heater are properly sealed and insulated.
If your doors and windows are cracked or poorly insulated, the heat will escape through them. This will force the room heater to overwork to maintain a desirable temperature.
Check for gaps around and cracks on doors, windows, and vents. Seal them with weather stripping and caulking.
At the door base, use draft stoppers to prevent cold air entry. Use plastic window insulation kits, heavy windows, or thermal drapes for windows to trap heat inside the room. Place rugs and carpets on uninsulated floors to retain heat.
This is the most common tip. Always turn off the heater when you leave the room/house. While sleeping, reduce the temperature to prevent unnecessary energy wastage.
With these strategies, you can efficiently use your room heater and optimize it perfectly to reduce energy consumption. So, invest in the right heater, follow these tips diligently, and wait to see the change reflected in your bills!
