Even though gas prices are declining, home heating costs can hurt – especially if you took a gamble over the summer and locked in your gas or oil rate, anticipating that prices would keep going up. (The penalties for breaking such a contract can be more than $1,000, depending on your agreement.)
So all the more reason to conserve energy any way you can. Here are some ways to cut your heating bill and still stay toasty!
1. Clean the furnace: The cleaner your furnace, the more efficiently it runs. Call your service professional to make sure it’s in working order and that grime and dust aren’t preventing its full operation.
2. Change the air filter: For less than $20, a new air filter will allow proper airflow from your furnace. A dirty filter forces your system to work harder and less efficiently.
3. Turn on the ceiling fan: Sounds counterintuitive, I know, but if you turn the fan on to run in reverse (most fans have the ability to switch direction with a toggle or switch), it will push hot air down and help spread warm air throughout your rooms.
4. Get fully loaded: When you do laundry or dishes, makes sure your appliances are filled to capacity. Try doing laundry in cold water and use the air-dry setting on your dishwasher. If you are investing in new appliances, look for ones with the Energy Star label.
5. Replace standard bulbs with fluorescents: Compact fluorescent light bulbs with standard bases use less than half the energy of incandescent bulbs, and they last a lot longer, too.
6. Let the sun shine in: Even urban dwellers can take advantage of daytime’s natural light. Rather than use light bulbs during the day, pull up your blinds and open your drapes to let the sun in (which can also warm your rooms).
7. Know when to close ’em: In the evening, draw your curtains to hold the heat from the day inside. Consider installing double- or even triple-lined drapes for extra warmth. This is a Victorian-era solution that has a lot of practicality today: Velvet or wool drapes are lined with satin and wool felt to prevent drafts and keep warm air from leaking out.
8. Get a coat for your water heater: If your water heater is more than 10 years old, invest in specially made insulation wrap, which is available at hardware stores and home centers. This coat for your heater helps it retain heat, which can reduce your energy bill by about $20 per year. When you’re ready to replace the water heater, look for an energy-efficient model or a tankless water heater.
9. Install a programmable thermostat: Program the thermostat to reduce the temperature in your home when you’re at work, or at night when you’re sleeping. Turning it down just a few degrees can save you more than $100 on your heating bill every year.
10. Seal leaks: Cracks and crevices can let cold air in and hot air escape, so seal up any drafty spots in your home with caulk and weather stripping. Doing so can cut your bills between 30 and 40 percent. Storm windows, plastic sheeting over drafty windows and weather stripping around doors can cut the amount of warm air that literally goes right out the window.
If I can do it, so can you!