As temperatures drop at the start of October, more households are expected to seek heating solutions. The way heating appliances are used can significantly impact heating costs.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the maximum temperature on October 1 is expected to be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, a noticeable decrease from the previous day, signaling the arrival of autumn. The morning low on October 2 is projected to fall between 5 and 14 degrees Celsius.
With the chilly weather, interest in ways to reduce heating costs is growing.
The Korea Energy Agency recommends utilizing the 'away' function on boilers instead of completely turning them off when leaving home. This is because turning the boiler off and then back on can consume a significant amount of energy to raise the indoor temperature back to a comfortable level.
Lowering the hot water temperature is another effective method. The agency explains that reducing the hot water temperature from 55 degrees to 40 degrees can decrease energy consumption. For a household using 200 kilograms of hot water daily over a month, this could result in a reduction of approximately 9.4 cubic meters of city gas and a savings of about 8,610 won.
It is also advisable to adjust heating valves in unused rooms and keep doors closed to minimize heat loss. Using air caps, door seals, and curtains can further enhance heating efficiency by reducing heat escaping through windows and doors.
In a separate analysis of cost-saving actions, the agency found that replacing an old boiler with a high-efficiency model yielded the most significant savings. This change could reduce monthly city gas consumption by 10.4%, translating to savings of about 9,901 won.
Additionally, reducing shower time by five minutes could save 6,826 won per month, while maintaining an indoor temperature of 20 degrees or using air caps, door seals, and curtains to prevent heat loss could each save around 5,227 won. Cleaning contaminants from old pipes is estimated to save 4,760 won, and adjusting the distribution valve in unused rooms could save 4,160 won.
The agency estimates that implementing all six of these methods could lead to a 38% reduction in monthly city gas consumption, equating to savings of approximately 36,101 won. However, these figures are based on certain assumptions, and actual savings may vary depending on factors such as home size, insulation, heating methods, and usage patterns.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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