10 Ways to Cut Your Heating Bill This Winter

Just because winter weather is coming, it doesn't have to mean the arrival of supersized heating bills.  Use these ten tips to reduce your heating bills during cold weather months.

1. Replace weather stripping
   Get your home ready for winter by sealing leaks around doors and windows with weather stripping.  Some weatherstripping will need to be replaced periodically due to normal wear and tear.  
2. Let the sun shine in
   Keep shades and curtains open on your home's south-facing windows during the day so sunlight can provide additional heat.  As night falls, lower your shades and close your curtains to keep the heat in.
3. Turn down the thermostat
   When it's cold outside, the last thing you want to do is turn down the thermostat. Remember, for every degree you lower the thermostat during cold weather months, you'll save between one and three percent on your heating bill. Try our recommendations for other ways to stay warm while turning down the thermostat:
   - Use a space heater in the room you're in turning it off before you leave
   - Wear extra layers
   - Use your fireplace
   - Pull out a cozy blank when relaxing on the couch
4. Give your furnace a tune-up
   Part of your household budget should include an annual inspection of your furnace by a licensed professional.  In addition, make sure to change your furnace filter regularly to keep it running efficiently.
5. Cover windows and patio doors with plastic film
   Use clear plastic film to cover windows and patio doors to reduce heat loss. The film is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.  If you install it correctly, you'll barely notice it.  The plastic is easily removable in the spring.
6. Invest in a programmable thermostat
   Today's programmable thermostats allow you to pre-set temperatures in your home throughout the day.  Some of the newest models of programmable thermostats allow you to control the heat of our home from a smartphone.
7. Stop warm air from escaping up the chimney
   There are pros and cons to using a fireplace in your home.  When in use, your fireplace is a heat source.  When you're not using it, warm air can escape through the chimney.  Remember to close the damper when you're not using your fireplace to prevent cold air from entering your home.  If your fireplace draws cold air from the outside, invest in a pair of airtight doors for your fireplace insert.
8. Keep heating registers clear
   The warm air blowing from your registers needs an unobstructed path to heat your rooms correctly.  Move any furniture blocking vents so your home is heated more efficiently.
9. Close vents in rooms not being used
   Close vents and doors to rooms that are empty in your home.  You will cut square footage from your energy footprint.
10. Lock doors and windows
    Locking your doors and windows during winter months can make a difference in your heating bill because they are pressed more tightly against weather stripping.  A word of advice:  Lock your windows early in the season.  If they freeze in their current position, they might freeze and won't move without a lot of work.

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