If your home is like most from Andover to Woodbury, you live on a budget that might not easily accommodate a 30% price hike in natural gas this winter. With natural gas being the primary heat source for nearly half the homes in the country, many households will struggle to pay the heating cost that is edging ever closer to an average of $1,000 for the October to March timeframe. To help homeowners keep warm this winter, we have compiled a list of tips to help heat your home more cost-effectively.
Eliminate Drafts And Heat Loss
It only takes a few minutes to walk through your home and locate places that feel excessively cold and drafty. First, look for air leaks under doors and around windows. Add weather stripping or caulk around leaky windows can help keep your warm air inside. If your windows do not seal well, consider adding another layer of heavy drapes or curtains. Even a blanket can increase the insulation and help keep the house warm.
Locate All Vents
Make sure that over the summer months, you have not relocated furniture to block vents and stop the circulation of warm air throughout your home. This could include décor pieces and furniture or even longer curtains that are blocking the registers. Also, be sure that all registers are fully open to balance the airflow through the house.
Enjoy Some Free Heat
While you want to keep curtains and drapes closed at night, be sure to open them when the sun is shining on the windows. That sunlight will allow you to turn off lights inside to save electricity and add radiant heat to your home. Just be sure to close those curtains when the sun has moved past the windows.
Use Ceiling Fans Correctly
If you have ceiling fans, be sure to reverse their rotation to counter-clockwise. The warm air in your home rises to the ceiling. With the fans rotating counter-clockwise, they will force that heat back down to your living space, making you feel warmer and more comfortable. It will also help stop the thermostat from turning the furnace on as frequently.
Go Programmable
One of the best ways to lower heating bills is by installing a programmable thermostat. This device will allow you to save money at night and when you are away from home by automatically lowering the temperature in the house. Once you are asleep, the temperature will decrease, saving you money on costly natural gas and wear on your furnace. Then, just before you get up, the thermostat can be set to automatically increase the house’s temperature to a more suitable level. The Department of Energy estimates that a programmable thermostat can reduce energy use by as much as 10%.
Invest A Few Dollars
Finally, invest a few dollars in a new furnace filter each month to increase your furnace’s efficiency and air quality. This simple step and a professional furnace tune-up from the experts at Blue Ox Heating & Air will keep your furnace operating at peak energy efficiency. Call 952-208-4570 today for more energy-saving ideas and services.
