Heating or cooling a room is one of the biggest energy expenses people bear across the globe.
Statistically, nearly 43% of the total electricity usage represents our home’s or offices’ heating and cooling requirements. On the other hand, around 37% of households in the United States use electricity as the primary heating source.
With the drastic rise in the cost of electricity, people are now struggling to switch to some affordable means.
Therefore, in this write-up, we have come up with information on some of the most-used cheap ways to heat your home.
15 cheap ways to heat a room
In many regions worldwide, winters can get extremely harsh. Long nights, snowy weather, freezing temperatures, and cabin fever are some of the most unpleasant experiences that people go through every year.
All these conditions call for a heating system, which instantly shoots up the electricity bill beyond imagination. Thus, we have come up with the cheapest heating methods to keep you and your pocket warm, irrespective of the weather conditions.
Invest in a space heater
How many of you have experienced that you use only a small part of your house (especially in the chilly season)? If, you too, think that the people in your home occupy only a specific portion of the place, then what’s the point of heating the whole house and burning your pockets with the lofty energy bills? Instead, you should consider investing in a space heater.
A space heater is one of the cheapest ways to heat a room without central heating. Most of these room heaters are designed with wheels, making them highly portable. So, you can easily shift the heater from one place to another and warm up the different areas of your house. These space-friendly equipments are best for heating small room.
The newly introduced models in space heaters are intelligently designed to save a lot of electricity. So, before you buy one, check on features like a timer, a built-in thermostat, etc. Make a smart decision and do not just buy a product with the basic on/off button.
Note: Ensure switching the device off as soon as you leave home, as it could lead to a deadly fire hazard if left unattended.
Install a Smart Thermostat
An old-fashioned thermostat might be sucking more electricity than normal, and this could be the reason for the shocker you get when you see your electricity bill. Therefore, you should now invest in a smart programmable thermostat, which can turn on and off, whenever required.
Surprisingly, according to the Government’s Energy Star program, it is estimated that households can save upto $180 every year if they use a programmable thermostat.
For basic models, a smart thermostat might cost you between $139 to $199. These devices are designed to sense even the most minor changes in the temperature that can happen from activities like cooking, etc. As a result, the device adjusts the temperature as required.
The best part about these smart devices is that they learn to adjust according to your routine. For instance, the machine records when you come home or go out daily, allowing you to change settings even when you are away. Therefore, this is one of the cheapest way to heat a room electrically.
Insulate the Attic
A well-insulated house is an answer to extreme cold and hot weather conditions. For instance, when you insulate your house properly, it keeps the cold air outside during winter and inside during summer. It is one of the low cost heating methods that will reduce the heating cost for many years.
You can hire expert companies to get your attic insulated, or you can also do it yourself. In addition, if your pocket allows you to do so, get more insulation pumped throughout the rest of the house areas. For this, you’ll have to get a hole cut in the drywall.
Initially, the process might disrupt your budget, but later on, you’ll see a drastic change in your energy expenses in the long run. This one-time investment can save you those extra bucks for many years.
Invest in Oil Filled Heaters
Oil-filled heaters are a great alternative for people who do not have a centralized heating system installed in their homes. Technically, oil-filled heaters are more expensive than electric heaters. Still, the cost of operating these devices is comparatively less than their counterparts, as they are far better at retaining heat.
The best part about this heating equipment is that once it reaches the required temperature, it will continue to release warmth at a cost cheaper than its electronic counterpart.
This category of room heaters is best for big rooms or indoor open spaces. Furthermore, they make little or no sound, which makes them perfect for even bedrooms. The best part is that you can even use these equipments inside your office, they’ll work wonders to keep your warm and at peace.
The only minus is that these heaters are quite heavy, and moving them from one place to another can be daunting.
Use Carpet or Rugs to Cover the Floor
How many of you have experienced the shock that chills your spine as soon as you step on a bare floor in chilly winters? If you can relate to this experience, you already know that bare floors can get chill as hell.
Bare floors can make winters worse, so you should spend money on getting a warm carpet or rug to cover up the floor. Using a woolen carpet is one of the cheap ways to heat a room as you no more absorb chills from the floor.
A carpet won’t raise the temperature indoors, but it would surely add to insulation and incredible amount of comfort to your surroundings. It works as an insulating element that keeps your feet warm even when you step out of the blanket.
This heating option is cheap, decorative, and cost-efficient. In addition, these objects are lightweight, allowing you to move them from one place to another as required.
Use Insulated Curtains
Using insulated curtains is one of the cheapest way to heat a room. These window treatments will help you balance the temperature inside the house.
Insulated curtains prevent the winter chill and the summer heat from entering the room, keeping the temperature inside the place soothing. In addition, they also help block 99% of light and UV rays, which not just keeps the atmosphere calm but also reduces noise.
The best part about these products is that they are super affordable and available in a wide assortment of color options. So, choose one suiting your interior, so that you can beautify your house while making the atmosphere comfortable.
Consider Installing Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is quite pricey. However, it can save a lot of electricity cost later. As we all know, solar panels generate power from sunlight; therefore, they help you save significant money in the long run.
In most European countries, the authorities are advocating the installation of solar panels as they reduce the consumption of electricity on a large scale. Moreover, the more people shift to using solar panels, the more energy we’ll be able to preserve for generations to come.
In addition, you also get a huge tax deduction when you buy solar panels to install the set-up at your home.
Note: The places that experience scarce sunlight cannot opt for this method as solar panels need bright sun to convert the sunlight into energy.
Spend on a Wood Stove
Wooden stoves are designed to heat your room using wood fuel. The cost of installation, which is a one-time expense, can disturb your budget during the installation process. Later, this heat source keeps your home warm without increasing your power bill.
Wooden stoves will not just heat your space, but they will also lighten up the surroundings to add a brightening effect.
The only drawback with wooden stoves is that you must always have access to wood; chopping the same can get extremely tiring.
Heat the Rooms in Use
If you manage your home intellectually, you will instantly notice a reduction in the power consumption and the electricity bill.
So, when you are trying to heat your entire home while it’s minus degrees outside, you will undoubtedly crash your budget and be shocked at the amount of electricity you’ve consumed.
Ideally, heating unused rooms is a waste of energy. Therefore, you should only prefer heating the rooms you use while letting the unused room stay cool.
Check the Registers
Registers are designed to circulate air inside a room. To let the warm air circulate effortlessly, check the registers to know if they are blocked or clogged.
The blocked registers will obstruct the airflow, and you’ll have to keep your room heaters on for 24 hours. Therefore, it is important to check the vents and see if they are clear of all kinds of blockage.
Construct the Traditional Fireplace
Traditionally, fireplaces were constructed to keep a place warm without electricity. In today’s time, people avoid installing fireplaces because of pollution, modern interiors and lack of enough space in the house. This ultimately increases the cost of electricity in our homes.
So, if you want to go traditional and also save the cost of electricity consumption, you can opt for the construction of fireplaces. Furthermore, use cheap fuels like animal dung to create an inexpensive heat source.
Conventional fireplaces also add an aesthetic look to your living room.
Note: The animal dung doesn’t have any foul smell, so it won’t hamper the quality of the air you breathe inside your home.
Check the Radiators
The functionality of your radiator is of utmost importance to avoid the overuse of heaters. For this, you must perform a time-to-time inspection to check that nothing in the room obstructs the radiator.
Technically, the radiator will not perform as per its capacity if there’s air trapped inside. So, ensure checking it to regulate the temperature inside your home.
Buy an Electric Blanket
An electric blanket is way cheaper than a space heater and is equally effective, too. You can undoubtedly call this method the cheapest way to heat a small room.
The electric blankets are designed with an inbuilt energy-producing element, which ensures proper heating throughout. These products will not just warm up a small space but also warm you up while you are using it.
Electric blankets allow you to heat a small room at cheap rates. It saves energy, lowers the costs of electricity bills, and keeps you protected from the stress of arranging for other heating sources.
Invest in Warm Clothes
Most families can’t afford to get expensive heating instruments installed in their households, so investing in warm clothes is one of the best alternatives for them. Different brands manufacture warm clothes in different designs so that people can maintain their body temperatures cheaply while styling themselves.
These clothes do not just keep you warm, but they also make you look super-stylish throughout. Investing in warm clothes will significantly minimize the need to heat the home interiors.
Spend on Electric Toe-Kick Heaters
Toe-Kick heaters are known to work on low electricity consumption. Therefore, you can use these options to heat a small room while controlling your bill.
Besides, the size of these heaters is comparatively small, which makes them portable enough to be carried from one place to another effortlessly.
The best part about these heaters is that you can control the temperature of your room while altering the same with a remote or switch. So, they are super-easy to operate.
Don’t miss:
What is a candle warmer
How to Know If You Have a Plaster Wall or Drywall
Different Types of Room Dividers
Do Room Dividers Block Sound
Wrapping Up
Those who live in colder regions understand the struggle of the high-end electricity bills. If you act smart enough to use cheap ways to heat a room, you’ll definitely be able to save a lot of money on energy bills.
Besides choosing energy-efficient appliances, you can still warm up a room using non-electrical alternatives like hanging blankets over the windows, maximizing the existing heat sources by removing the furniture and other objects that obstruct the passage of heat.
People also use the power of sunlight to grab the heat indoors.