What is the most cost-effective way to heat a home? (2023)

FAQs

What is the most cost-effective way to heat a home? ›

Natural gas is likely to prove the cheapest way to heat a home if you have this heating option available to you where you live. Although prices have risen, natural gas is the least costly form of space heating. This is followed by electricity, propane, and heating oil, from the next cheapest to the most expensive.

According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money.

Conclusion. So, after looking at the different types of electric heaters available, due to its lower power-output, halogen heaters are the cheapest electric heaters to run.

Gas and Oil. Electric heaters that are powered by the main electricity supply are very efficient in terms of how they convert energy into heat. In fact, electric heaters are 100% efficient. Gas central heating system are less efficient than this, with most operating in and around 90% efficiency which is pretty good.

Close curtains, shades and blinds at night and during unoccupied periods of the day to help prevent warm air from escaping. Set your furnace thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (68 F) or lower, health permitting. Three to five percent more energy is used for each degree you set your furnace above 68 F.

What temperature should you keep your house at? Or better yet, “What is the most energy saving temperature to set my thermostat at?” According to ENERGYSTAR.gov, the ideal home temperature should be between 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, is electric or gas heat cheaper? Using off-peak electricity, conventional electric heating may cost about twice as much as gas heating to run. And here's why: electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient. In other words, all the electricity they use is turned into heat.

The startup process for a furnace consumes more energy than simply running the entire time at one set temperature, costing you additional money. To maximize efficiency, it's best to keep your furnace (or AC) at the same consistent temperature for long periods of time.

A viewer asked us to verify whether turning your heat on and off is more cost effective than leaving it running steady. Our researchers asked AC and Heating experts. They agree you should not turn your system off completely—then it'll have to work extra hard to reheat the house and it'll end up costing you.

Infrared quartz model space heaters will be the most energy efficient. Other types of space heaters that are less efficient include ceramic models, oil-filled radiators, and convection models.

What is the best heater to save electricity? ›

What are the most efficient heaters? If you're looking for a heater that won't use much power and helps cut costs on energy bills, your best bet is a halogen heater, a convection heater or an oil-filled radiator, particularly if they have effective thermostat controls.

Propane is cheaper than electric.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating a home in the U.S. with a propane heating system costs far less than heating with an electric system.

In general, furnaces are the most efficient of the heating systems, especially if you have natural gas. They work by heating air with a component called a heat exchanger and pushing it into the home through a duct system, using a fan (often referred to as a blower).

Based on our research, the best cold climate heat pump is Mitsubishi's Hyper-Heating, or H2i. Listed as Mitsubishi's M-Series or P-Series for home installation, these heat pumps maintain their full heating capacity down to 5F, and can produce useful heat down to -13F.

Gas boiler

It's not as cost-effective without solar panels, but a gas boiler is still the cheapest way to heat your home – though that's set to change soon, with the cost of gas rising more than twice as quickly as electricity.

Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or the highest comfortable temperature. Every degree lower than 78 can raise your bill as much as 3%.

According to ENERGY STAR, setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) when you're home is the ideal balance of comfort and energy efficiency.

There are a few factors behind why home heating costs are rising, but primarily these increases are influenced by the rising cost of fossil fuels and a high heating demand. Even if you don't use fossil fuels to heat your home, their price increases affect the cost of electricity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home. If there are infants or elderly individuals, they recommend keeping the temperature at 70 degrees at a minimum.

Yes, homeowners can save money on their energy and heating bills by turning the thermostat down. You can save almost 15 percent of your total heating bill by lowering your heat by seven degrees overnight (or for any other eight hour period).

What is the best heating schedule for winter? ›

You should set the central heating programme to come on around half an hour before you get up, and go off around half an hour before you go to bed. And if the house is empty during the day, or you can manage without heating during the day, make sure you've set the programmer to go off for this period too.

While electric heating systems have historically produced more expensive monthly heating bills, that may not always be the case. There are other financial advantages electric heating systems have over gas heating systems. First, they're less expensive to purchase and install.

Electric blankets and throws are actually very economical – costing from as little as 5p per hour to run, especially when you compare them with the cost of keeping your central heating on for hours or heating rooms you're not actually using.

Heating your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home -- typically making up about 29% of your utility bill.

Day Time Temperature Setting

The lower the temperature is inside of the home, the slower the rate of thermal energy loss. To achieve optimal comfort, it is recommended for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 to 72 degrees while there are people inside of the home.

How Low is Too Low to Set My Thermostat? If you're going to be leaving your home or traveling for the winter, it's best to keep your thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees. If you don't, you could risk having your pipes freeze over.

Raising the thermostat just two to three degrees in the summer can help your wallet. "You can save two to three percent on your overall cooling costs," Donahoe said. And at APS, a spokesperson says raising your thermostat by one degree saves two to three percent on energy cooling costs.

Between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit should be the perfect temperature range for a home. While you're gone from home, adjust the thermostat by 8 degrees to enhance energy efficiency and cut your heating and cooling expenses.

Sleep scientists suggest that for optimal sleeping conditions, room temperature should be between 60 and 67°F. That figure is considerably lower than the daytime recommendation, furthering your heating bill savings while also reaping improved sleep. It's a true win-win.

What is the cheapest and most efficient heater? ›

Infrared heaters are likely the most energy-efficient electric heaters, giving off all their heat through infrared, making them efficient for home heating. Each watt of energy is made into usable heat, with none lost due to air escaping the room.

Because their energy requirements are so much lower than the average furnace (400W - 1500W on average) they provide you a low-cost way of raising the temperature without significantly affecting your energy costs. Oil filled space heaters are also over 99 percent energy efficient.

Opt for a Propane Heater

Propane heaters provide an effective way to heat a room without electricity; newer models even boast efficiency up to 99%. In addition, they are an affordable and convenient backup heating option. These heaters can quickly heat a medium to large space using liquid propane as fuel.

Space heaters cost about 20 cents per hour to operate, give or take, which is a whole lot cheaper than central heat for a home of almost any size. Bigger homes and those in colder climates cost even more to heat, and the net savings you'll see using a space heater is even greater.

Overall, furnace systems are the most efficient for heating the home and especially natural gas designs. Heating air with a heat exchanger, they force warmed air through wall ducts into all rooms for a whole-house cosy feel during all weathers.

As a general rule, heating your home with a natural gas furnace is the cheapest way to keep warm through the winter months. Electricity is usually significantly more expensive than gas, so even the most efficient heaters will be a bigger drain on your pocketbook than a traditional furnace.

Conclusion. So, after looking at the different types of electric heaters available, due to its lower power-output, halogen heaters are the cheapest electric heaters to run.

What is the downside to a heat pump? ›

Air source heat pumps can experience issues such as icing in cold temperatures, which can ultimately damage the system. Although modern heat pumps do often have automatic defrosting. Their efficiency will also be lower at very cold temperatures, and use more electricity during those cold days.

As a general rule, heating your home with a natural gas furnace is the cheapest way to keep warm through the winter months.

Propane is cheaper than electric.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating a home in the U.S. with a propane heating system costs far less than heating with an electric system.

Water heaters are among the highest energy-consuming appliances in your home. Energy star predicts that households spend between $400 and $600 on heating water every year for things like laundry, showers, and washing dishes, making water heaters the second most energy-consuming appliance in your home.

If you use a space heater in your home, please be aware that using a space heater can cause a significant increase in your monthly bill. A 1,000-watt space heater operating 12 hours a day will add about $40 to your monthly bill. If the cost does not deter you, remember how important it is to use space heaters safely.

Are space heaters safe to leave on all night? In general, it's not recommended that you use a space heater while sleeping.

Because propane is a more efficient fuel, it costs less to operate. Propane appliances also generally have a longer lifespan than their electric counterparts, saving you both money and peace of mind in the long run.

And, overall, propane is the more efficient fuel. One cubic foot of propane equals 2,516 BTUs, while one cubic foot of natural gas equals 1,030 BTUs. That means, propane is more than twice the energy of natural gas. While the cost per gallon is less for natural gas, you'll use more of it to heat the same appliances.