Keep Your Heating Bill in Check

Like it or not, colder temperatures are here to stay – at least for the next few months. Unfortunately, for most, the nip in the air also means high heating bills. While there's no way to eliminate this cost completely, some simple home improvement projects can go a long way towards helping to keep your heating bills in check.

Add these six easy things to your home improvement checklist, and you'll start enjoying savings right away. 

1. Replace Your Air Filter
   Replacing the air filter in your HVAC system is something you can do so fast; it's debatable whether you can even call it a "home improvement project." Still, it's one of the first things you'll want to do before you start craking up the heat.
   
   A clogged air filter will impede airflow through your HVAC system. This makes it harder for the system to keep up, resulting in a chilly house, poor indoor air quality, and higher electric bills. 
   
   
2. Check Your Seals
   Most homes lose a lot of their heat through spaces around the windows and doors. Checking your seals and reinforcing them with caulking and weatherstripping is a quick and easy home improvement project that will pay off right away. 
   
   
3. Add Some Insulation
   Unless your home was specifically made with energy-efficiency in mind, there's a good chance that it could use some extra insulation. While you could hire a professional to do this for you, in most cases, it's a fairly easy DIY home improvement. Just make sure you do some research, so you know exactly what you're getting into before you get started. 
   
   
4. Fix Leaky Ductwork
   While you're up in your attic checking out the insulation, you can tackle another home improvement by inspecting your ductwork. Start by looking for obvious tears. If you find any, seal them with aluminum foil tape or mastic sealant.
   
   Next, turn your system on and check for gaps or disconnections. You can do this by holding your hand over the metal and feeling for air leaks. Pay close attention to the duct joints, as this is a common weak spot. You can also use a smoke pencil or fog machine to check for other places where air is escaping from your system. Mark anything you find a grease pencil, then go back and seal all the problem areas you located. 
   
   
5. Install a Programmable Thermostat
   Replacing your older thermostat with a new programmable model is a home improvement project you can do in an hour or so. It's also one that will pay off for many years. Your new thermostat will allow you to adjust the temperature in your home at certain times of the day. This way, you're not paying for heat when nobody is around to use it.
   
   According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lowering your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day can save you about 10% per year on your heating and cooling bills. Once you've installed your programmable thermostat, you can make sure that this happens without having to think about it every day. 
   
   
6. Create an Updraft 
   Many homeowners don't realize that changing your ceiling fans' direction can make a major difference in keeping your home comfortable. When your fans turn clockwise, it creates an updraft. This pulls the cold air up towards the ceiling and pushes warm air downward.
   
   By redistributing the warm air that's naturally in your home, you're saving your HVAC system from having to add more. This will naturally make your home feel warmer while also shaving a few dollars from your monthly heating bill. If you don't already have ceiling fans in your home's main rooms, now is the perfect time to tackle this important home improvement project. 

Home improvement projects are the most rewarding when you can see immediate benefits. Not only will these home improvement tasks save you money over the coming months, but they'll also start making your home warmer and cozier as soon as they're done. That's what we call a win-win! 

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