Money Saving Tips For Your Heating Bill This Winter

Winter is a time when you spend a lot of your time at home inside, which can result in high energy costs. Especially on those cold winter days when you're bound to turn the thermostat up a bit here and there to keep you and your family cozy and warm. Prevent those high costs by making some repairs to your home and doing some maintenance on your heating system. See below for tips on how to save money on your heating bill this winter:

Home Repairs

There are a number of home repairs you can do to help save you money on your heating bill:

• Seal Windows and Doors. Reseal your windows and doors where you could have air leaks or drafts. In winter, those small air leaks can mean money being thrown out the window (or door). Inspect the seals around your home and replace any that are loose, broken or dry-rotted. You can find replacement seals at your local hardware store.
• Use Window Plastic. Use plastic to cover your windows to give them further protection against the cold air outside. The plastic helps guard against drafts and keep your warm air inside where it belongs.
• Add Insulation. Insulation protects your home in both winter and summer. If you haven't added insulation in your attic in a long time, it may be time to add some. Over time your insulation can wear down from humidity, insects or even pests, causing it to not work as effectively. You'll need to add more.

Furnace Maintenance

Maintaining your furnace can help save you money on your heating bill each cold weather season, as it will run efficiently, not breakdown as often, and can lengthen the life of your furnace:

• Change Air Filter. Change your air filter every other month, or more often depending on if you have pets, small children or anyone in your home has allergies or breathing issues. Your air filter helps prevent dust and dander from getting into your home, and into your furnace, which means a cleaner system and proper air flow. If it's clogged with dust and dander, it can block air flow to your system.
• Clean Your System. Clean your furnace with a shop vacuum before the start of the winter season to get all of the dirt, dust, and dander out and prevent it from causing future issues with your furnace.
• Get A Tune-Up. Have your furnace checked before the start of the winter season to be sure it's in top condition. Contact a heating services professional to have your system checked and cleaned to ensure it works properly throughout winter and beyond.

Other Tips:

• Use the sun to help heat your home during the day. Open up the curtains and blinds and let the sunshine in. Close the curtains and blinds at night to block out any drafts.
• Keep the thermostat turned down or on a schedule (if you have a programmable) so it's turned down during the day and set a little higher at night to keep you more comfortable.
• Add throw blankets to your living room decor to use to help keep you and your family cozy and warm at night.

You want to be comfortable and warm in your home during those cold winter months, but you don't want to have to pay enormous energy bills as the trade-off. Keep your bills low by following the tips above. Be sure to have your furnace inspected prior to the cold weather season by a professional HVAC technician.