Save money and power this winter while keeping your home warm and dry with these energy-saving tips

Winter can be a stressful time financially for many families. Debtfix knows heating costs can eat into the budget, the kids have outgrown last year’s warm clothes and gumboots, and more time in the house drives up the power bill. Here are a few small changes you can make to your routine to keep your bank account afloat at this time of year.

Heating your home for less

Keeping your home warm and dry at this time of year can be a massive financial expense. Here are some ways to reduce your heating costs.

• Heat locally. Only heat the rooms you’re using, close doors and use draft stoppers to prevent heat slipping into unused rooms — a cut up foam pool noodle makes an easy DIY draft stopper.

• Heat sensibly. Having the heating on should keep the house comfortably warm, not tropical-island-vacation warm. You can save a lot of money by not overheating the house in winter. If you’ve got a heat pump, 21-22 degrees is a good balance of warming the house without wasting energy.

• Heat trap. If you’re not using your open fireplace, block the chimney to keep the warmth in. Cover windows with bubble wrap (smooth side facing the room) for makeshift double glazing. Make sure your curtains are boxed in at the top with a pelmet and reach all the way to the floor. Close curtains half an hour before sunset to trap in the heat from the sun throughout the day.

  • Long-term fix: Weather-proof your doors and window joinery. Replace the seals if they’re getting old.

• Install insulation. Before you spend money on heating, you need to invest in insulation for your home. Check in the ceiling and wall cavities and underfloor if your house is on piles. Sometimes insulation may have moved from one spot, maybe when an electrician has been in the ceiling and replacing this is a simple way to improve your home’s thermal envelope.

  • For those living in rental homes, “Landlords should make sure their rental home can be well heated and ventilated. Tenants are responsible for ventilating the home during their tenancy.” Tenancy Services.

If you’re struggling with heating costs, you may be eligible for the Government’s winter energy payment.

Keep the house dry — without an expensive dehumidifier

You can really run up your power bill by using a dehumidifier to dry out your home during winter.

• Find it and fix it. If you’re having problems with dampness, you’ll save money in the long run by finding out what the problem is and getting it sorted, rather than running a dehumidifier all the time.

• Un-flued may also mean unsafe. Flueless gas heaters release water vapour and pollutants into the room. If these pollutants go above the safe level, they can be fatal.

• Dry clothes outside. The most-energy efficient way of drying your clothes and keeping your home dry is to hang washing on an outdoor washing line. If you are using a dryer, make sure it’s vented outside to prevent moisture build-up.

• Ventilate to dry out. When the sun shines you should open curtains, blinds, windows and even doors if it is warm enough – to dry the interior of your home. Dry air is more economical to heat. Dryers, bathrooms and kitchens should have extraction fans correctly venting outside to prevent moisture building up in your home.

Other money-saving tips for the chilly season

Spending more time in the house can make the power bill a headache at this time of year. Here are some quick and easy ideas for reducing your power consumption — remember, every little bit helps.

• Hot water, high prices. Have showers rather than baths to save water and check all your taps for leaks.

  • Long-term fix: Insulate hot water pipes, wrap an insulating blanket if it is an older model, and use a low-flow shower head.

• Economical appliances. Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are full before you run them. A microwave is far more efficient than an oven, so use it instead when you can. Fill your electric kettle with water from the cold tap and use it to boil water instead of heating it on the stove.

  • Long-term fix: Buying appliances with a high energy star rating may cost more at the time, but it can save you a lot over the life of the appliance.

• Easy and effective.

  • Switch electronics off at the wall when not in use. 

  • Only turn lights on in rooms you’re using.

  • Keep curtains open during the day to make the most of natural light.

  • Wash clothes on the cold water setting.

We’d love to hear what your household does to cut down costs in winter. Head on over to our Facebook page to share your ideas!