The winter chill has set in, and you may turn to your heating systems to keep your indoors comfortable and warm. With extended use of your heating system comes hefty utility bills that can make any homeowner frown.
No matter how desperately you want your heating bills to go down, turning off your heater is not the best solution. In this blog, we are going to discuss why you shouldn’t turn off your heater during the winter.
What Will Happen If You Turn Off Your Heater In Winter?
It Will Cause Your Pipes To Burst
You should avoid turning off your heater in winter, especially when the temperature drops below the freezing level. Since your heater is being used more in such harsh weather, you may expect your utility bills to go higher than usual.
This may tempt you to turn off your heater, even if it is just for a while, to lower your utility bills. However, with the heater turned off, the temperature will drop quickly, ultimately freezing the water in your pipes. When water freezes in your pipes, it expands, causing some of them to burst. With water flooding your home, the water damage will cost you way more than what you will expect to pay for the heating bills.
It Is An Inefficient Method Of Saving Money
It is far better to lower the temperature of your home than to turn off your heater completely. Thermostat setback is a method of lowering your thermostat during times when you need less heat, such as when you are asleep, at work, or on vacation. In fact, you can save 1% on your heating bill for every degree that you lower the thermostat. It is recommended to set back your thermostat to 65 degrees for about 8 hours a day to save a hefty amount of your heating bills.
Turning down your thermostat by just a few degrees can make a noticeable difference in your energy usage without interfering much with your comfort!
It Will Cause Discomfort To You And Your Pets
With the temperature dropping rapidly at night, you can expect the indoor temperature to plummet as soon as you turn your heater off. In fact, the colder the temperature in the outdoors, the faster the indoor temperature will drop. Hence, it is better to opt for not turning the heater off, even when you are sleeping or going outside. You can lower the temperature of your heater of course.
There is another reason to make sure that your heat is running, and that is to keep your pets comfortable. Depending on what kind of pet you have – a dog, a cat, or some other animal – you may need to adjust the temperature in your home.
Tips To Save On Heating Cost
Ensure that your home is well insulated and draught proof. It is never a bad idea to spend on your home’s insulation, including insulated cavity walls, insulated loft, and draft proof doors.
Make use of natural heat sources like the sun. Open the windows when it is a little warm outside to let the heat and light in. Another option is getting a programmable thermostat. Such thermostats allow you to automatically set back the temperature at certain times of the day with pre-scheduling options.
Find leaks and holes around the house and cover them. Some common areas include gaps around chimneys and doors as well as behind cupboards.
If you want, you can also wear warmer clothes when you are at home.
Get In Touch With Professionals
Even after all the precautions, if your heating bills are not decreasing in any way, the problem might be your heater. Old heating machines tend to use more electricity as compared to new ones. To prevent problems or to avoid unexpected breakdowns, contact our heating experts at Mid Atlantic Heating & Cooling. Call us at 703-447-8046.
