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Lower your heating bills this winter by
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Heating costs have been rising over the past several years, and concern about use of natural resources means that many people are looking for ways to lower their heating bills. How much your heat bill will rise depends on a lot of factors, and the biggest one is the one you can't control – the weather. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your home's heating efficiency and keep your bills from going sky high. Here are a few tips to help you.
1. Install a humidifier on your furnace. Furnaces suck the moisture out of the air, making it feel uncomfortable. Combine that with the lower humidity that occurs in the winter anyway, and air can feel cooler than it really is. A humidifier can help remedy this, allowing you to set the thermostat a little lower.
2. Lock all windows. Locking your windows means that you'll get the tightest seal possible, keeping your warm air in, and cold air out.
3. Replace filters on your furnace. You should do this every few months, and clean them once a month. A clogged filter means your furnace burns more fuel to produce the same amount of warm air.
4. Use ceiling fans. We normally think of ceiling fans as devices to cool air. However, if you use the reverse switch on your fan in the wintertime, it can move warm air down from the ceiling. This means that your furnace doesn't have to work as hard.
5. Seal all gaps in your home. There can be cracks and spaces all over your home. For instance, air can pass through gapes between brick and wood siding, around your doors and windows, near the chimney, and in the attic. Find places where air can escape and seal them with weather stripping or other means.
6. If you're not using your fireplace, keep the chimney damper closed. The chimney pulls a large amount of air out of your house, and can take much of your heat with it.
7. Place rugs under doors. If you want to insulate a single room, rolling up a rug and putting it under the door will keep warmth from escaping through the gap.
8. Open your drapes, shutters, or blinds during the day and close them at night. While the sun's up, it's a good idea to take advantage of the warmth it offers by keeping your windows clear. However, cover them at night to avoid heat escape.
9. Set your thermostat a little lower at night. Sixty-eight is a good temperature for daytime. Sixty degrees is better at night. Every degree above these temperatures means a three percent increase in your bill. If you're cold, consider putting on a sweater or sitting under a blanket.
10. Don't rely on portable electric heaters. While it may seem like these will save you money, they actually cost you more. Don't keep your home chilly, and then try to make it up with small heaters.
Related links:
How to Improve Heating Efficiency
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