Tips to Help Save Money this Winter Season
Top Ways to Reduce Your Heating Bill:
Install a Programmable Thermostat.
This allows you to preset temperatures for different times of the day. Choose a lower setting when you’re sleeping or away from the house. Use a higher setting when you are home and awake. In the end this can save you between 10 and 20%.
Close Your Flu.
Although the winter season is the perfect time to have a fire, an open fireplace damper lets the same amount of heated air escape as an open window. It is important to make sure you close your flu when you are not having a fire and ideally reduce the number of fires you have.
The Spin on a Ceiling Fan.
This is something many people forget to take advantage of. Fans help bring heated air down in rooms with high ceilings. Make sure to slide the reversing switch and turn the fan on at its lowest speed.
Move Furniture Away from Vents and Radiators.
This is more of an obvious suggestion, but many times a couch, chair or even a bed can be blocking the flow of heated air into the room. This wastes money and leads to colder rooms.
Install a Door Sweep.
If you feel cold air seeping beneath a door leading outside and find that using a door snake is inconvenient, install a door sweep. This long, thin broom like attachment gets installed along the inside bottom edge of the door.
Quick-Seal Windows.
Dead air is a very effective insulator. Install clear plastic film across the inside of your windows and you will see a fast payback. Heat lost through windows account for 10 to 25 percent of your overall heating bill.
Use Your Drapes To Your Advantage.
Open your drapes during the day to get free solar heat and close your drapes just before sunset.