Save on Heating Your Home this Winter

If you want to cut down on heating costs this winter, put in a little time now to weather proof your home and prevent heat loss. Here are a few tips that might come in handy:

#1- Seal your windows and doors. If you have storm panels for your windows  now is a good time to  install them. Also, try using foam insulation strips around the edges of your windows and doors and you can prevent some serious heat loss. Lastly, window coverings like curtains and blinds can also help.

#2- Check vent and pipe outlets. Oftentimes a source of heat loss in a home occurs around vents and pipes that come into the home from the outside. If the edges of the pipe or vent are not sealed and/or insulated you can loose valuable heat. Spray foam insulation is a good answer ot this problem and can be picked up at any hardware store.

#3- Vary your heat settings. Instead of leaving the temperature in your home the same all day long, reduce the heat during the times when no one is home. For example, you might want to kick up the heat in the morning while your family is waking up and leaving for school or work. However, before you walk out the door turn the thermostat down a few degrees instead of heating an empty home. Energy Star recommends a programmable thermostat that allows you to preset different temperatures in your home for various times of the day.

#4- Insulate. If you can afford to insulate your home this fall it may just pay off this winter and around tax season. Insulating your basement and attic can help reduce heat loss by 25-50% depending on your home. Most heat loss occurs through the attic since heat rises, so, that might be your first place to target. And don’t forget that there is a tax credit for homeowners who make energy efficient upgrades this year.

#5- Have your Furnace Cleaned. Furnaces need to be cleaned regularly to keep them in good working order. If your furnace hasn’t been cleaned in a few years it’s a good idea to have it done. Improperly maintained equipment is one of the leading causes of high heating bills according to Energy Star. Also, keeping your furnace in good working order means less risk it will fail on your in the middle of the winter season.  (FYI- homeowners insurance does not cover appliance failure due to lack of maintenance. A home warranty, however, does typically provide this type of coverage.)