With the months getting colder homeowners are getting ready for the sweaters, hot chocolate, marshmallows, winter boots, and increased heating bills. If one of those didn’t sound as nice as the others use these cost saving tips to help your budget while the weather grows more chilly outside.
- A programmable thermostat can cost less than $50 and save you over $150 a year. Simply set the temperature to be lower during the day when no one is home, and then to kick on at night and keep you warm and toasty. Sweet dreams, sweet savings! For an even more cost effective option, simply manually turn down the heat before you leave for work in the morning.
- Watch for thermal energy that’s leaving without you knowing! Be sure to close all kitchen vents, fireplaces, and closet doors for maximum efficiency. Another tip is to purchase a chimney cap for fireplaces no longer in use.
- Opting for a price cap can be a very economic way to save on heating costs. Any utility carrier that engages in the practice can actually regulate the amount of money they can charge you for a service, and then if you go over you just pay what you use. This is especially popular in the cooler northern states.
- Wrapping your pipes, especially those exposed, can cut costs enormously. Firstly, clean the pipe off with a rag. FIberglass or other appropriate insulators can then be wrapped around the entire pipe. Following that, seal the entire thing in duct tape, and be sure to pay special attention to those tricky corner pieces.
- Make sure you shut doors tightly and seal all empty gaps. Attach a seal that can be affixed to the bottom of the door to prevent heat loss. Also be sure to caulk and re-caulk windows and gaps in your home. And speaking of windows, either remove or cover any air conditioning units still affixed.
- An absolutely essential and easy way to save money is to not obstruct your heating vents with furniture. This one is overlooked far too often and can cost you in the long run.
- Update your heating system. Systems older than twenty years, are significantly less efficient than more modern models. In fact, recent studies show that newer models can cut the amount of energy used anywhere from 15%-25%.
- Storm windows are another source of savings. Aside from the advantages of sealing your home from torrential weather, they are also better at retaining heat.
- Open up your blinds and shutters on the east side of the house in the morning to use the sun as a natural heating source. Simply close the blinds at night and enjoy the natural money-saving powers of the sun.
- Go green! Ask your oil provider about biofuel, a naturally occurring carbon fixation, which can blend with your current type of fuel and overall lower emissions. Save money and help the planet!
- Use heating vent covers or deflectors to only heat the rooms you use. If you or your family never go down to the garage anymore, or simply have an unused guest room you may want to consider this option. They can cost anywhere from $15 - $50 dollars but save you much more than that in the long run.
