Winterize your home! With the rising cost of heating oil, propane and kerosene, you could be paying twice as much to heat your house this winter than you did a few years ago. Here is 10 quick money-saving tips that you could do this weekend to prepare your house for winter. 1. Replace your furnace's air filter Dirty units use more fuel. Replace filters every three months. 2. Drain a quart of water from your water heater tank Doing this once every three months will remove sediment that slows down heat transfer. 3. Buy a programmable thermostat Then set it to automatically turn down heat at night. For each lowered degree, you'll save 1 to 3 percent off your heating bill. And if you go away for a weekend, lower your thermostat to 55 degrees. 4. Check for energy tax breaks If you buy a new energy efficient furnace, boiler or water heater you'll save on your energy bills and your taxes. Shop for products with an "Energystar" logo. They use 10-50 percent less energy than standard models. Here's how much you'll save with Uncle Sam: Furnace/boiler: $150; water heater: $300; storm windows: up to $200; storm doors: up to $500; new insulation: up to $500 (source: www.energystar.gov). 5. Use an electric blanket It's much less expensive than heating your bedroom to a toasty temperature. 6. Lower the setting on your water heater If you have a dishwasher it needs only be set at 120 degrees and if you don't it can be set even lower. 7. Check your house for heat leaks Check around your doors, windows, air conditioners, attic hatches, switch plates, electrical outlets, fireplaces and foundations. Holding a candle works best. Use caulking, weather stripping and door sweeps to close off the leaks. It can save 5 to 30 percent of your heating bill. 8. Give your heating system an annual check-up Most service contracts provide for a check-up, but many homeowners don't know they must call to make the appointment. 9. Seal your clothes dryer vent Heated air pours out all winter. Unlike a typical sheet metal flapper, a dryer vent seal stays closed unless the dryer is in use. 10. Wash your clothes in cold water Dialing down from a hot setting can cut your energy load by more than 50 percent.
10 tips to reduce heating costs
ReplyDeleteWinterize your home!
With the rising cost of heating oil, propane and kerosene, you could be paying twice as much to heat your house this winter than you did a few years ago. Here is 10 quick money-saving tips that you could do this weekend to prepare your house for winter.
1. Replace your furnace's air filter
Dirty units use more fuel. Replace filters every three months.
2. Drain a quart of water from your water heater tank
Doing this once every three months will remove sediment that slows down heat transfer.
3. Buy a programmable thermostat
Then set it to automatically turn down heat at night. For each lowered degree, you'll save 1 to 3 percent off your heating bill. And if you go away for a weekend, lower your thermostat to 55 degrees.
4. Check for energy tax breaks
If you buy a new energy efficient furnace, boiler or water heater you'll save on your energy bills and your taxes. Shop for products with an "Energystar" logo. They use 10-50 percent less energy than standard models. Here's how much you'll save with Uncle Sam: Furnace/boiler: $150; water heater: $300; storm windows: up to $200; storm doors: up to $500; new insulation: up to $500 (source: www.energystar.gov).
5. Use an electric blanket
It's much less expensive than heating your bedroom to a toasty temperature.
6. Lower the setting on your water heater
If you have a dishwasher it needs only be set at 120 degrees and if you don't it can be set even lower.
7. Check your house for heat leaks
Check around your doors, windows, air conditioners, attic hatches, switch plates, electrical outlets, fireplaces and foundations. Holding a candle works best. Use caulking, weather stripping and door sweeps to close off the leaks. It can save 5 to 30 percent of your heating bill.
8. Give your heating system an annual check-up
Most service contracts provide for a check-up, but many homeowners don't know they must call to make the appointment.
9. Seal your clothes dryer vent
Heated air pours out all winter. Unlike a typical sheet metal flapper, a dryer vent seal stays closed unless the dryer is in use.
10. Wash your clothes in cold water
Dialing down from a hot setting can cut your energy load by more than 50 percent.