Cheapest ways to heat your home this winter!
Winter has well and truly arrived! The colder temperatures mean that we all have to find a way to stay snug and cosy.
However, heating isn’t cheap! With the current cost of living crisis, we know many Kiwis won’t be able to afford the big power bills that come with heating your home.
So, we thought we’d share some of the cheapest ways that you can warm your house this winter!
Which heater is cheapest to run?
The most important thing to consider when heating your home is what sort of heater you should use.
The cheapest option will differ for each household. It comes down to finding the right heater for the type of room you’re wanting to heat.
We’ve listed some of the key attributes of each type of heater below:
Heat pump:
Heat pumps are great in medium to large-sized living rooms. Since they are energy-efficient, they’ll basically pay for themselves! However, they cannot be moved from room to room (or rental to rental) and are costly to buy and install. Therefore, they are not recommended for bedrooms or smaller spaces.
Electric fan heaters:
The benefit of electric fan heaters (and oil column heaters) is their low upfront cost. Buying one will not set you back too much! So this is perfect for those flatting or renting. Fan heaters are great in living rooms as they release heat evenly throughout a room. However, it’s important to choose the right size heater for each room as this will impact how cost-effective they are.
Oil column heaters:
These heaters slowly heat up a room and don’t take up as much power as cheap fan heaters. They are great for safety and quietness, so they work well in bedrooms. However, they don’t distribute heat evenly compared to a fan heater.
Woodburner:
A decent-sized woodburner will heat your entire home. The exact running cost will depend on the price of the wood you are able to buy. However, Consumer New Zealand says woodburners can cost up to twice as much as heat pumps to heat your house. With so much of the heat going out the chimney, woodburners may be one you want to avoid.
Electric blankets and…electric throws?!
Want the cheapest way to stay warm during winter? Buy an electric blanket! These wonderful inventions will only set you back about 10 cents a night. For a house of four running them every night will cost a megger $12 a month. You can’t get much better than that!
You may be thinking though…what if I’m not in bed? Do I just have to put up with being cold? To that I say two words… heated throw! That’s right, the likes of The Warehouse and Kmart have combined the classic fluffy throw with an electric blanket. So when you’re not in bed, you can cuddle up on the couch under a very warm throw. All for less than the price of your fish and chips order!
Put down a rug!
Keeping warm is all about insulation! So if you’ve got hardwood floors then chucking a rug down will definitely help keep the warmth in the room. This is especially important if you live in an older house since these places will often have more wooden floors and lack insulation underneath the house.
An added benefit is that rugs are fantastic pieces of decor! They really help tie a room’s look together.
Best of all, they are super cheap! Pick up either a second-hand one for almost nothing or find a bargain at The Warehouse, Kmart or Bunnings.
Cover up those windows!
Much of the heat in your home will escape through your windows! So experts always recommend putting in double glazing. However, changing your windows will set you back around $20,000, so it’s not really a cheap and easy fix.
So instead, we’ve got three DIY tricks you should try!
1). Bubble wrap your windows!
It may sound odd but this is a great way to keep the heat in! Get some bubble wrap and pop it over windows that you don’t often use. It’ll help stop the nice warm air from escaping your room.
2). Use a window kit!
Want something a bit fancier than bubble wrap? Buy a window kit! Pick one up for around $35 from your local hardware store and cover your windows, just like the bubble wrap. It works like a charm!
3). Pop a towel on your curtain rail!
Heat rises and can easily escape at the top of your curtain rail. To combat this, roll up a towel and place it on top of your curtain rail. This will stop the heat from sinking behind the curtains and out the window. With towels costing very little, this is an effective way to stay warm. Even the experts recommend it!
Shop around for a cheaper power provider!
One of the easiest ways you can stay warm for cheap this winter is to look for a new power provider!
Shopping around for the cheapest deal is always a fantastic idea. You’d be surprised how much you can save, just by looking at other power providers. We’re talking about saving hundreds of dollars!!
You may be thinking…how can I shop around and compare power providers? Well, here’s the answer…
Head to Power Compare!
Power Compare is a comparison website where you can compare various power plans and providers to find one that’s right for you!
We have plans with special benefits, free hours of power, joining perks as well as exclusive deals! You’ll easily be able to find a plan that saves you heaps of money!
Plus, the website is super easy to use!
All you have to do is:
- Jump onto the website.
- Type in your address.
- Select some filters that match your preferences.
- Hit enter!
- Browse all the different plans available to you & compare them side-by-side.
- Find one you like and switch!
Alternatively, if you’d rather chat to a friendly human, then give our customer support team a free call on 0508 22 66 72. They’ll help you find an awesome plan!
Staying warm this winter doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. Follow our cost-saving tips AND make sure to jump on Power Compare!!