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Winter in Melbourne is never easy, but with living costs exploding right now, many of us are wondering how we’ll stay warm on a budget this winter when funds are so tight.
Because many people are hurting financially right now, we’ve put together a few tips to help keep you and your loved ones cosy this winter, without breaking the bank.
READ MORE: 6 hot reasons to keep your gas heater regularly serviced
If you are in the market for a new and economical heater for your home, please remember that split-system and multi-split system air conditioners are reverse cycle, meaning they heat as well as cool – not bad for a unit that is so inexpensive to buy and operate!
Our 6 handy tips for the home to stay warm on a budget
Some are common-sense and cost nothing, while others are industry knowledge; but all these tips will help keep you stay warm on a budget:
Layer up
This one’s an oldie, but it served our grandparents so well and is still so relevant today. Before you turn on the heater, throw on some more clothes.
A set of thermal underwear, some fleece-lined slippers, a woollen jumper and a beanie work supremely well to keep you warm.
And don’t forget your pets! You can keep them comfortable by providing a warm place to sleep, winter coats and even a microwavable heat pack.
When it comes to your own bedroom, a set of flannelette sheets work wonders as a base to build off. Then simply layer up with your winter blankets and be sure to cover any wooden floors with a big woollen rug.
Set your thermostat
There’s an ideal temperature setting that provides year-round comfort – and that’s 22-23C. It’s a setting that not only provides comfort no matter the season, but allows your system to work as efficiently as possible to keep power bills down.
Seal up the drafts
Any entry point to your home – think doors, windows and even chimneys – will allow cold air in and warm air to escape.
You can fit door gaskets to the bottom of your doors to block drafts, or even use the traditional door snakes. And with 40 percent of heat escaping through windows, it pays to have quality curtains and to keep them drawn when there is no sunlight to heat the room.
If you have an unused traditional fireplace, make sure your chimney is blocked so that all of your warmth isn’t funnelling up and outside.
Localise your heating
It doesn’t matter how big or small your home is, there are definitely rooms that we tend to live in more than others.
These tend to be the living room and bedroom.
So if everyone congregates in the living room at the end of the day, this is the best place to concentrate on heating.
Invest in inexpensive heating
The heating system you choose will depend on many things: the size of your home, who owns it, and your budget.
For those on a budget, it really is difficult to go past a split or multi-split air conditioner system.
Not only are they cheap to buy and install, but the fact that they are reverse-cycle means they provide warmth as well as cooling for year-round comfort.
Also, here’s a handy tip: focus on the star rating of your heater.
The star rating tells you how efficient your Ducted Heater will be – and the most efficient models use less energy, meaning lower bills!
In the language of star ratings, three stars are given to less-efficient models, with six stars being awarded to the best, or most economical, models for your home. So, while a 3-star, low-efficiency heater will cost less to buy, it will cost more to run. And a 6-star heater will save a lot of money on energy bills throughout its lifecycle but costs a little more to buy.
It’s time to talk to the experts at Plum
If you are on the market for a new home heating system, why not give Melbourne and Geelong’s premier heating & cooling professionals a call at Plum Trade Services.
It’s common to feel bamboozled by all the varying models, shapes and unit sizes when selecting the best home heating solution, but our team at Plum Trade Services will always put you and your needs first.
You’re in safe hands with Plum, with the knowledge that from more than 1500 reviews on Google, we have a 4.9/5 star rating, thanks to our hard work and integrity resulting in happy customers.
Please call us in Melbourne (03) 8360 9622, Geelong (03) 5292 2219, or you can shoot us an email via contact@plumheatcool.com.au
