With Autumn upon us and daylight saving ending soon, jump on these tips and tricks to outsmart that pesky power bill.
Nor’westers = Free Home Heating 💨
Canterbury’s famous nor’west winds can bring surprisingly warm air in autumn. On those warmer days, turn off the heater and open your windows to let nature do the work. Just be ready to close them before the temperature drops again!
Check Your Off-Peak Power Rates
Many Christchurch homes have day/night electricity rates, meaning power is cheaper during off-peak hours (usually after 9 pm). Running appliances like dishwashers or washing machines later at night can save you money. Check your plan – many people don’t realise they have this option!
Earthquake-Damaged Homes = Extra Draughty Homes 💔
Many Christchurch homes still have gaps, cracks, or shifted frames from the earthquakes, making them colder and harder to heat. Check around windows, doors, and floorboards for draughts, and seal them up with weather stripping or gap filler. Even a rolled-up towel at the bottom of a door can make a difference!
Rug Up Those Wooden Floorboards!
Speaking of draughts, many older Christchurch homes are lucky enough to have original remu floorboards. Beautiful? Yes. Airtight? No. Around 10% of your home’s heat is vanishing straight through them. A thick rug acts like insulation, keeping warmth where it belongs – inside!
Make a Work-From-Home “Heat Bubble” 🫧
If you’re home during the day, try only heating the room you actually use. Close doors to keep warmth in and use a small, energy-efficient heater instead of running the whole house heating system.
Don’t Let Your Couch Sabotage Your Heater
If your couch or furniture is sitting right in front of your heat source, it’s absorbing all the warmth before it can circulate around the room. Move it away and let the heat do its thing.
Your Heatpump Has a Dirty Secret 🤫
If you haven’t cleaned your heatpump filter lately, it’s probably working overtime and using more power than it should. A clogged filter makes it up to 25% less efficient. Check and clean it every few weeks during heavy use! Or better yet – book us in for a service!
Use Your Extractor Fans Wisely
Kitchen and bathroom fans are great at removing steam, but they’re also great at sucking warm air out of your house. Turn them off as soon as they’ve done their job, or they’ll keep pulling heat outside.
Curtain Control = Free Heating
Open your curtains wide during the day to let the sun naturally warm your home, then close them BEFORE it dusk to trap that heat in. Thick, lined curtains work best!
Your Hot Water Cylinder is a Secret Power Hog 🐷
Even a small drop in temperature can make your cylinder work harder. Wrapping it in an insulating blanket can reduce heat loss by up to 45%, meaning your water stays hot with less energy used.
Microwaves Are Sneakily Efficient
Using your microwave instead of the oven can cut energy use by up to 80% when reheating food. Even better? A slow cooker or pressure cooker uses a fraction of the power of a stove.
Your Fridge & Freezer Work Less When They’re Full 🥶
A full fridge/freezer holds cold air better than an empty one. If yours is looking sparse, fill it with bottles of water (or bags of frozen veggies) to help it run more efficiently.
Damp Homes Feel Colder (and Cost More to Heat)
Christchurch’s autumn air can be damp, especially after rainy days. A dehumidifier doesn’t heat the air, but by removing excess moisture, it makes your home feel warmer and reduces heating costs. Aim for 40–50% humidity for comfort.
No Double Glazing? No Worries! 🪟
Approximately 50% of Christchurch homes are single-glazed. If your home is one of them, you can still reduce heat loss with DIY window insulation film or even bubble wrap on windows you don’t need to see through!
Author: Holly Lawrence
