Six Tips to Save on Home Heating Costs

As temperatures start to fall in the cooler parts of the country, some of us are starting to think (panic) about high home heating costs. I wanted to share some strategies with you for lowering those home heating bills to save you money and help the environment as well. Try some of them out, and let us know if you see a difference in your home!

1. Insulate. Unless your house is the tightest, most efficient home on the block (if it is, you probably don't these tips), chances are your home loses a lot of heat through your attic (hot air rises, remember?).

2. Plug those leaks. It costs enough to heat your home. Don't heat the neighborhood as well. Check for drafts around windows and doors. Seal things up with weatherstripping or caulking. You should also consider a home energy audit, where a professional will come to your home and find all of the places where heat is escaping your home. These home audits almost always pay for themselves in energy savings.

3. Get a programmable theromstat. We all want the house to be warm when we get home. But does your furnace need to be running in the middle of the day? Buy a programmable thermostat, and the heat will automatically lower during the day and then warm up before you arrive home.

4. Turn the heat down at night. Consider turning the heat down a couple of degrees when you go to bed and opting for an additional blanket instead. 

5. Replace your furnance filter regularly. If you leave a dirty, clogged air filter in your furnance, it will have to work harder to push air through, meaning higher costs for you. Do your furnance a favor and replace the filter every month or two. 

6. Have your furnace serviced. Get an expert to come to your home and make sure your furnace is working efficiently if your furnance is over five years old. They can make adjustments that will ensure your furnance is a lean, mean heating machine.