While some of the situation is out of our hands – the price of crude oil, for instance – there are many things we can do to keep a rein on our winter heating bills.
Your heating system is the one element that should get the closest look during this cold, costly winter. Now is a great time to have a service tech give your system a thorough evaluation to make sure it’s running properly and as efficiently as possible.
Additionally, the federal government’s ENERGY STAR program makes several recommendations about how you can heat your home smartly this winter, including:
§ Replace the air filter in your furnace regularly. Dirty filters reduce air flow, which makes getting the warm air to the registers a lot tougher.
§ Install a programmable thermostat. Why heat the home while you’re away? Setting back the temperature in your household when you’re asleep or at work is another opportunity for energy savings – as much as $100 each year on energy costs.
§ Seal up your home. Sealing holes, cracks and openings and then adding insulation is one of the most cost-effective means of improving comfort and reducing energy use. Cracks in windows and doors can be plugged through weather-stripping and caulking.
Here are some more helpful Heating & Air Conditioning Tips for you to look over.
