Winter is coming, and with that comes sky-high heating bills… If your gas or electric bill spikes every year from December through March, it’s time to do something about it. There’s no reason why you need to pay an arm and a leg to keep your home comfortably warm all winter long.
Fix Up Your Furnace
If
your furnace is working harder than it needs to, you’re likely to see
higher heating bills throughout the winter. Before the temperatures fall
too much, have a repair company come out and tune up your furnace for
the winter. During a tune up, a heating contractor will fully inspect
the machine, replace the filters, and perform any maintenance needed.
The tune up helps your furnace run more efficiently throughout the
winter.
Use Your Fans
Ceiling
fans don’t just help keep your home cool in the summer. They can also
help warm it up in the winter, as long as the blades are spinning the
right direction. In the winter, adjust your fan so that the blades turn
slowly clockwise, this creates an updraft, helping distribute the warm
air in your home.
Seal Up Any Leaks
Your
heating costs will increase if the warm air is able to sneak out of
your home and if cold air is allowed to seep in. To keep things toasty,
caulk around windows and doors to keep warm air in. Look at where your
outlet boxes are too, as cold air can often seep in through them. If
your home has a fireplace, make sure the dampers are closed (when not in
use) so that air doesn’t leak up and out through the chimney.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
You
know that lowering your thermostat a degree or two can cut the cost of
heating your home. But it can be difficult to remember to raise or lower
the temperature as needed. If you want to lower your bills, it can be
helpful to purchase a smart thermostat.
There are a number of brands available, but the basic concept is that
they learn to automatically adjust the temperature in your home based on
your habits and preferences and based on the time of year. Some smart
thermostats let you know when to tune up your furnace or change the
filter for maximum efficiency.
Work with Your Utility Company
You
want to reduce your bills, and your utility company wants you to pay
your bills on time. It should be no surprise that there are programs
designed to help you with your heating costs. One option offered by
some companies is budget billing. With budget billing, you pay the same
amount each month, based on your past use and averaged out over the
year. You don’t save money with the budget bill plan, but it can help
you avoid a bit of a shock or having to scramble to come up with money
to cover a higher than usual bill in the winter.
Don’t let high heating bills leave you cold this winter. You have lots of options for reducing your bills, without sacrificing comfort.
