Yes, winter may be drawing to a close, with spring officially just a few weeks away. However, we’ll still likely feel the chill for a little while yet, so now is still a good time to improve heating efficiency in your home.
Small changes, both to your home and your daily habits, can increase comfort while decreasing energy consumption and lowering your energy bills. We’re here to look at 7 easy ways to make that happen. Simple, practical solutions without all the hot air.
From energy efficiency upgrades to simple, quick-win things you can do around the house, there’s no better time than now to keep your home running efficiently and effectively through these late stages of winter.
1. Choose Energy Efficiency
If you’re looking to upgrade an old and outdated heating and cooling system in your home, make sure you choose energy-efficient appliances that will serve you well.
Start with the highest-efficiency option you can afford. A modern heat pump-powered reverse cycle air conditioner usually delivers strong cooling/heating performance with equally strong energy efficiency, especially compared with portable electric heaters.
If you prefer gas heating, choose flued gas heaters over unflued models for safer indoor air. For larger homes, consider ducted systems with zone control capabilities. This will allow you to heat only the rooms in use. Compare energy rating labels, including the Zoned Energy Rating Label for air conditioners, and aim for a high-efficiency model.
Set sensible thermostat targets and timer schedules. Keep your filters clean as well. This means the system reduces energy consumption and energy bills, and helps improve energy efficiency (and heating efficiency) in your home.
2. Seal and Insulate to Minimise Heat Loss
The second in our exploration of ways to improve heating efficiency in your home is to stop warm air from escaping and block outside air from coming in.
Begin with insulation. There are three key things you can do:
- Top up the roof space
- Insulate external walls where practical
- Treat the floor if it’s draughty
Fit quality door and window seals, install double glazing or secondary glazing for your windows, and use heavy-lined curtains with pelmets to trap heated air. Close unused chimneys that may have been used with wood heaters, cover or back-draft proof exhaust fans, and seal gaps around pipes and the loft hatch.
Simple fixes like door snakes make an immediate difference. Aim for sufficient ventilation without uncontrolled leaks.
These steps reduce heat loss, lower energy consumption and can help to slash your heating bills. It’s all to significantly improve heating efficiency in your home while enhancing its thermal performance for greater energy savings.
3. Optimise Air Flow and Distribution
Save money by using what you’ve already paid to heat. Instead of creating more hot air, move the already heated air around smartly.
- Set ceiling fans to winter mode at low speed to push warm air (that pools at the ceiling) down without a cooling effect.
- Balance ducted systems by opening supply registers evenly and keeping return air pathways clear; don’t block grilles with furniture.
- Use zoning to heat only the rooms you’re using and close internal doors to prevent warm air from drifting away.
- Add door seals and transfer grilles where needed so pressure stays stable and air flow remains smooth.
Keep filters and vents clean so reverse cycle air conditioning can operate efficiently and quietly, and improve heating efficiency in your home.
4. Maintain and Operate Efficiently
Whether you have an oil-filled heater delivering radiant and convective heat to a single room, or a ducted system warming up the entire home, make sure to keep that heating system clean and well-tuned. This will go a long way towards improving energy efficiency and cutting heating and cooling costs.
For maximum energy efficiency, it’s important to clean or replace air conditioner filters regularly and book annual servicing for your heating appliances. From a safety standpoint, always choose flued gas heaters and make sure you have adequate ventilation to maintain indoor air quality. Never use unflued gas heaters indoors.
Check thermostat setpoints, use timer schedules, and don’t overheat unused rooms or areas of the house. As winter begins, shut down your evaporative cooler so it doesn’t draw in outdoor air. Keep return grilles clear and registers balanced so equipment can operate efficiently.
These simple habits will help to improve heating efficiency in your home without costly upgrades.
5. Follow This Quick Wins Checklist
Quick tweaks and even minor changes to your daily habits can bring instant comfort and savings. Use and follow this checklist to improve heating efficiency in your home.
- Set your heating to 18–20 °C and use timers.
- Switch any ceiling fans in your home to winter mode (i.e. it reverses the blade direction) to push warm air down.
- Close doors to any unused rooms. Heat only the rooms you use, and block draughts from doors and windows.
- Draw your curtains in the early evening; open in the morning for the sun to boost heat gain.
- Clean reverse cycle air conditioner filters; keep returns and vents clear.
- Turn off any portable electric heaters as you leave the room.
- Shut evaporative cooler vents or outside air intakes in winter.
These habits cut energy consumption and save money on energy bills while also supporting an energy-efficient home.
6. Upgrade Appliances for Bigger Energy Savings
Old and inefficient heating and cooling appliances waste money. They typically use more energy than their newer counterparts, and that is energy you pay for. So, before winter ends, consider upgrading your appliances to models that use less energy to deliver maximum performance.
Replace resistive electric heaters and portable air conditioners with a high-efficiency reverse cycle air conditioner. Alternatively, where gas heating remains practical, choose modern flued gas heaters over unflued models.
If you use ducted heating and cooling, upgrade to a high-efficiency model and add zoning to heat only the rooms you use. Compare options using energy rating labels, including the Zoned Energy Rating Label on air conditioners, to verify real running costs.
These efficient appliances with their thermal performance upgrades cut heating costs, lower energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a surefire way to significantly improve heating efficiency in your home.
7. Install Solar Panels and Smart Controls
Slash heating costs throughout your home by using low-cost daytime solar generation (after system pay-back) to slash heating costs. The savings you achieve will depend largely on factors such as:
- The size of the system
- Solar output
- Tariff rates
Program your reverse cycle air conditioner to pre-heat living areas when solar panels are producing, then maintain comfort later with lower setpoints. Use smart thermostats, sensors and zoning on ducted systems to target only the rooms in use. This will help trim energy use and save money on bills.
Add timers to avoid running extra heating unnecessarily, and use geofencing so the system readies the house just before you arrive. If you have a battery, prioritise evening heating from stored solar to cut household energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
These controls help equipment operate efficiently, reduce reliance on outside air temperatures for comfort, and improve heating efficiency in your home across late winter.
Warmer Home, Lower Bills
As winter gradually comes to an end, it’s worth tying the whole plan together. Match a high-efficiency heating system to your home, upgrade your insulation, and run your heating appliances in a smart way.
Reverse cycle air conditioners (and zoned ducted systems) offer excellent energy efficiency, while flued gas heating suits some homes. Combine energy-efficient appliances with simple changes to your daily habits; clean your aircon filters, sensible setpoints, and targeted heating and cooling.
Use energy rating labels to compare running costs, and consider a heat pump hot water upgrade. Solar panels and smart controls amplify energy savings and trim heating costs and energy bills.
These practical steps improve heating efficiency in your home, lift thermal performance, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the cool weather lingers.
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