Heating Options To Keep Power Bills Down This Winter

In summer, it’s the air-con that causes consumer power bills to blow out, and in winter, it’s typically the heater. It’s to uncommon for over 40% of an electricity bill to be dedicated to heating and cooling. In Australia, we seem to only have two seasons, hot and cold!

Fighting back against high winter power bills

Before trying to look for more efficient methods of heating your home, we need to first address if you’re losing energy and to put a stop to it.

Draughts - 

Particularly in older homes, door and window seals may not be up to scratch. Sealing these leakage points can make a huge difference and see you using less energy instantly.

Insulation - 

Again with older homes that were built before energy ratings were a part of life, the lack of adequate insulation can be putting a huge burden on your heating bills. Where practicable, insulate.

Shade - 

We live in a sunny country, and that sun packs some intense heat. Shades and awnings can quickly take the sting out of your next power bill (a summer tip but worth mentioning).

Now that we’ve addressed some energy leakage issues, let’s take a look at heating options that won’t break the bank.

Gas heaters

Either LNG or LPG, gas can be an economical method to keep your home warm this winter. Today’s models are efficient, controllable, and ca work well in different room sizes. 

Obviously a portable or in-built gas heater can only heat a single space (room or open space), so if you have a large family this may not be the most economical method of heating.

Central heating

Depending on the type of system, these can be quite affordable to install and maintain. They come in various fuel types, including gas or oil. The entire home can be evenly heated, and modern systems have zone controls meaning you do’t have to heat unused rooms.

Reverse cycle ducted air conditioning

Many homeowners are using these systems for heating their homes throughout the cooler months. While they can be costly to operate, it’s worth mentioning that when powered by a home solar system, you can keep the house warm during the day generally without tapping into the grid. A warm home during the day, means less power is needed at night to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Electric heaters

While convenient and portable, these units can be a real shock to your power bill. Use with caution!

Wood heaters

Let’s face it, we all pretty much love sitting in front of a log fire. Open log fires, well they just send most of the heat up the chimney. Slow combustion heaters, they are much more fuel efficient. However, if you are purchasing the wood, it can work out to be far more expensive than some of the other heating systems we have mentioned above. If you’re not paying for the wood, then you are also generally cutting, splitting, and stacking, which takes up a lot of time and your own personal energy.

Which heating to use 

There’s plenty of options on heating, and some types are definitely more economical than others. If on a budget or simply looking to reduce what you spend on heating, the key is to use enough energy to keep warm and comfortable.

While we may not be your local heating specialists, First Choice Electrical are committed to helping Central Coast residents keep their power bills under control in summer and winter. Our qualified electricians are on hand to audit your energy and help you find ways to lower your energy bills.