I have to admit, I wasn't very happy to discover that the home we recently moved into has baseboard heaters. Baseboard heaters are one of the most expensive home heating options around—in fact, I almost fainted when we got out first energy bill! Fortunately, I found several ways to reduce baseboard heating costs. Using these measures, I was able to reduce my bill by over $100! Here are seven ways those of us with baseboard heating can save some cash:
1. Keep your heater sparkly clean
Dust buildup on your baseboard heater will block the heat and keep it from escaping properly. This means your heater will click on, but your room will stay icy cold. Prevent this by cleaning your baseboard heaters once a month (or more if you are bit OCD like me). Cleaning them is super easy—just vacuum the heater's fins and housing.
2. Turn it down!
Practice zone heating whenever possible. What's zone heating? It's when you turn down the heat and close the doors of unused rooms. But don't turn the heat off completely! Your baseboard heater will have to work harder and use more energy to get back to a comfortable temperature once you turn it back on. I find that 55 degrees is the optimal temperature for my vacant rooms. I also like to keep my window coverings open during the day to allow the sun to naturally heat the room so it stays warmer even with the heater turned way down.
3. Calibrate
Chances are your heater's thermostat is not perfect. But don't worry; I've got an easy way to test it. Just place a weather thermometer (you can find them for under $1 at almost any store) near the heater. Check the actual temperature in the room throughout the day, and adjust your thermostat until you reach the lowest temperature you feel comfortable with. Mark that temperature on your thermostat so you will know where to set it every time you turn the heater on. I found that 70 degrees was actually almost 75 on my thermostat! Now I keep the temperature at 65—my house is still warm, and I'm saving money.
4. Insulate
Insulate your house, especially in the rooms with baseboard heaters. You want to eliminate any kind of window and door drafts if possible. Sealant strips are easy to apply—they’re just like tape, and super cheap. in fact, my local store carries it for only 33 cents! You can also find window and door insulation kits for only $8. They contain everything you need to seal your doors and windows up tight.
5. Contact the power company
Some utility companies will give you a discount on your energy bill if an insufficient heating source (such as baseboard heaters) is your only source of heat. Discounts tend to range anywhere from 5–40% of your bill. Because some programs are income based, you'll have to check with your local utility company to see what you may qualify for.
6. Run appliances at night
Run your washer, dryer and dishwasher at night instead of during the day. Why? Appliances generate heat, which means your house will rely less on your baseboard heaters to warm up your rooms.
7. Give your ceiling fan a whirl
Everyone knows that heat rises. Take advantage of this natural phenomenon by turning your ceiling fan on. By reversing its direction so it spins clockwise (there should be a switch somewhere on the motor housing to change the direction of the blades), the fan will not only push the hot air down, it will help circulate warm air throughout the entire room.
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