With winter fast approaching, increasing energy bills are on many people’s minds. Don’t burn through your cash this winter by paying too much to heat your home. Here are a few simple ways that anyone can save money on heating their home this winter.
Properly Seal Windows
Go around to each window in your home and ensure that it is closed tight and latched shut. Check for drafts and if you find any, place a 4-inch wide strip of towel into the base of the window frame before you close it. Even a small crack could break the bank this winter.
Weatherstripping
Check all the external doors to your home. If you can open and close the door with little or no resistance, you probably need weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is available at most home improvement stores for less than $10 per door.
Remove Window Air Conditioners
This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people fail to remove their window unit air conditioners in the winter and their energy bills pay the price. Be sure to remove your unit and properly seal the window before turning on the heat. Take advantage of the off-season pricing and consider purchasing a more efficient window unit for next summer.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats allow you to set the temperature in the home based on the time of day. Most people set theirs to reduce the heat while they sleep and while they are at work. This can reduce your energy bill by up to 10 percent. Programmable thermostats are relatively inexpensive, costing less than $100.
Tune Up Your Furnace
Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the importance of this step. Just like your car or any other piece of complicated machinery, your furnace should be inspected twice a year, once before the cooling season and once before the heating season. Taking care of the maintenance will not only keep your furnace running longer, but it will also make it run efficiently. Typically, these tune ups cost less than $100. However, if you wait until the weather is cold, you will easily be paying more than $100 to have your furnace examined.