How to Save Money on Your Heating Bill with a Heat Pump

A Heat pump {Värmepump} is an electrically powered device that moves heat from one place to another.

Here are a few tips to help you save money on your heating bill this winter.

Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable – Every degree you lower your thermostat can save you up to 5% on your heating bill. So if you normally keep your thermostat set at 70 degrees, try setting it to 68 degrees instead. You might be surprised at how little difference you feel with just a slight decrease in temperature.

Use a space heater – If you have a room in your house that you don’t use very often, like a guest bedroom or home office, close the vents and doors leading into that room and use a space heater to keep it warm instead of heating the entire house.

Take advantage of solar energy – During the day, open up your curtains and shades and let the sun’s rays warm up your house. Then close them again at night to help keep the warmth in.

Insulate leaky areas – Drafty windows and doors can let warm air out and cold air in, making your furnace work overtime (and driving up your energy bills). Seal any cracks or gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk to help keep the warm air inside where it belongs.

Wear layers – Instead of turning up the thermostat, put on a sweater or blanket when you’re chilly. Not only will this help you save money on your energy bills, but it’s also good for the environment!

Get a programmable thermostat – Investing in a programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to save money on your heating bills. A programmable thermostat allows you to set different temperatures for different times of day (so your house can be warmer when you’re home and awake and cooler when you’re asleep or out of the house). Many newer models even allow you to control your thermostat from your smartphone!

Install ceiling fans – Ceiling fans can help circulate warm air throughout your house and make it feel warmer without actually raising the temperature. Just remember to switch them off when you leave the room, so they’re not running needlessly and wasting electricity.

Clean or replace furnace filters – Furnace filters should be replaced every 1-3 months (depending on the type). A dirty filter will make your furnace work harder than it needs to (using more energy and driving up your bills), so make sure to check them regularly and replace them as needed. Some types of furnace filters can even be cleaned and reused!

Use cold water for laundry – Heating water uses a lot of energy (up to 90% of the total energy used to wash clothes!), so using cold water instead of hot or warm water whenever possible can really help lower your energy bills. Most detergents work just as well in cold water as they do in hot water anyway, so there’s no need to worry about not getting your clothes clean. Just make sure to read labels carefully before washing since some fabrics require hot water for the best results.