5 Ways I Keep Heating Costs Down in My 100-Year-Old House

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Older houses are notoriously cold. Here’s how one homeowner keeps warm without breaking the bank. 

I love old houses, all that charm and character. Indeed, I love them so much I bought one. And let me tell you, the old gal positively leaks charm and character.

Know what else she leaks? Everything — including heat.

Older houses are notoriously hard to keep warm in the winter. But our heating bills are surprisingly manageable so far. Here are a few of the things we’re doing to keep them that way.

1. Insulate everything

My beloved centenarian abode is as drafty as you’d likely expect. But we’ve done what we can in the short term to address some of the trouble spots.

For example, we replaced the worn weather stripping around the doors and windows. We also added a thick draft stopper — basically a heavy cloth tube filled with buckwheat hulls — to stop the persistent draft from the bottom of our back door.

We added extra thick curtains to the windows, particularly those on the north side of the house. The blinds, plus the curtains, create layers of insulation that help stop the heat from escaping.

While these are just little things, they do help. However, we absolutely plan to address some of the larger insulation problems as budget permits. This includes getting a full energy audit, updating the attic insulation, and replacing older windows.

2. An energy-efficient furnace

So, I’ll preface this one by saying that this is not a “cheap hack” type of tip. But updating your heating system can do absolute wonders for your monthly energy bill, especially if you upgrade to a more energy-efficient system.

The cost of this can vary a lot. If you don’t have ductwork, adding it can cost a small fortune. Even just replacing an older furnace with a new one is thousands of dollars.

In my case, replacing the furnace wasn’t exactly a planned activity; the old unit decided it was done, and we weren’t in a position to argue about it. However, now that it’s here, I do notice that my energy bills have gotten a bit better. Turns out an old, leaky furnace is not the most energy-efficient way to heat a house. (Go figure.)

Even if you don’t upgrade, I suggest getting your heating system serviced by a professional every year to ensure it’s in good working order — and to ensure it stays that way. This can also help you plan a possible replacement as your current system reaches its end of life.

Oh, and don’t forget to change your HVAC filter. I peek at ours once a month, and change it out at least every three months, per EPA guidelines.

3. A smart thermostat

When we moved in, the house had a simple thermostat that couldn’t even be programmed. This led to a lot of instances where the house was too hot or too cold because no one adjusted the thermostat.

We’ve since upgraded to a smart thermostat, and the difference is noticeable. For one thing, I don’t need to remember to turn it down at night before bed. And if I forget to turn it down on our way out the door, I can do so from the road. The chillier members of the family are also big fans of the ability to turn the thermostat back up on our way home so it’s already warming up when we walk in the door.

If you’re comfortable letting your power company have a little access to your thermostat, you could potentially get a rebate for upgrading, too. Many providers are rolling out smart thermostat rebates if you allow them to adjust your thermostat by a few degrees during peak demand.

4. Personal heating devices

Everyone in my household has a different temperature preference (including our budget, which likes whatever keeps the bills down). So, we all compromise by maintaining the whole house at a moderate temperature, and using secondary methods to make our personal spaces warmer if we want.

For instance, bedrooms and common rooms have smaller electric heaters sized for their respective spaces. (Putting a tiny heater in a big room is not an efficient use of energy.)

Additionally, everyone has an electric blanket on their beds — and then some. One member of the family who runs particularly cold even has an electric blanket on the sofa for after-dinner hangouts, and another that plugs into the car for longer road trips.

5. Cozy layers, from head to toe

I love winter wear. As soon as the weather cools, the flannels and cardigans come out. And I’m not just talking about when we leave. One of the best ways we’ve found to keep ourselves comfortable without running the heater all the time is simply to layer up.

Since I work from home, my daytime uniform is comfortable pants, a tee, and a warm long-sleeved shirt or sweater. If I’m feeling chilly, I don’t touch the thermostat; instead, I add a pair of fuzzy socks, a thicker sweater, or just put a blanket on my lap. If that still isn’t quite enough, I’ve been known to sport a hat around the house.

Layering is a great way to keep your body heat from escaping. Several thin layers that allow for air breaks in between are more efficient than a single, thicker layer at insulating your body.

Our older home isn’t the best at keeping the heat inside, but we love her anyway. And with these tricks, even our personal finances are happy all winter long.

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