Seven money saving tips to keep your house warm
Staying warm during winter can be a costly experience, whether you already have a heating system or are looking to buy one.
But, heating expert Chris Barnes from the consumer advocacy group CHOICE has some smart tips for staying cosy without spending a fortune.
1. Don’t assume an expensive heater will be the best
Though we often associate quality with an expensive price tag, product testing has revealed the opposite.
“Our product testing often reveals retail price isn’t the best indicator of performance,” Mr Barnes says. “So splashing cash on a high-end heater or aircon without doing your research could still leave you out in the cold.”
In fact, CHOICE experts found that budget heaters going for less than $100 were often better than those costing hundreds more.
“So don’t assume that just because a heater is expensive or from a well-known brand that it’s going to give you the best value for money,” he continues.
2. Avoid the cheap duds
While staying away from the expensive models, it’s always wise to avoid the very cheap ones too.
To get the best option, it’s important to do your research so that you can pick the gems from the dud models. Having a look at reviews and the results of product testing by CHOICE are just two of the tools you can use to find the best deal.
“Kmart Anko’s heaters, for example, have had the lowest test scores in the past two years. Their 2020 model may have just cost $55, but it scored only 45 percent in our tests - the worst heater result we’ve seen since 2014,” Mr Barnes says.
“But don’t be disheartened if you’re on a budget. Those same tests also uncovered some cheap gems that cost the same but performed a lot better.”
3. Heaters have different running costs
Heaters not only vary in how much they cost to buy, but how expensive they are to run too.
“In our analysis of more than 40 electric models, our experts found heater running costs can vary from $193 to $368, depending on the brand and design of heater (based on an estimated 500 hours of use and an electricity price of 30c/kWh),” Mr Barnes explains.
4. Utilise your ceiling fan’s reverse mode
Though fans are a must for summer, they can be quite handy during the colder months too.
Using them in reverse - also called winter or clockwise - mode in conjunction with your heating system can help the warm air spread across your house more evenly, rather than staying high up around the ceiling.
“Our lab analysis shows that, used this way, your heater has to do far less work to maintain a constant temperature, which means lower power consumption and lower bills,” Mr Barnes says.
5. Don’t turn up the heat too much
If you have a reverse-cycle air conditioning system, it could cost anywhere from $113 to $335 to heat up your home (assuming 500 hours of use and electricity costs of 30c/kWh) according to Mr Barnes.
To cut costs, he recommends setting your air conditioner to a temperature about 8°C higher or lower than the outside temperature.
“Basically, the harder your air conditioner has to work to heat your room, the more electricity it’s going to use,” he explains.
“As a helpful rule of thumb, each degree warmer usually adds about 10 percent to the running cost of your air conditioner.”
6. Heaters and laundry don’t mix
Though it might seem logical to dry your wet washing in front or on top of your heater, it will affect your heating bill.
By obstructing the flow of air from the heater, it will have to work harder and stay on for longer to increase the temperature.
7. Watch out for draughts
Sealing gaps in your doors or around your windows will help keep the heat in and save you money on your energy bills, according to Mr Barnes.
“Cover gappy floorboards with rugs, close curtains and, if necessary, do a bit of simple DIY where the cold air is getting in,” he says.
Whether you pick up some silicone sealant or draught strips from your local hardware store or opt for a simple door snake, blocking small gaps can make a big difference.