There are a number of techniques that you can do to reduce your heating costs. Here is a list of tips and techniques to give you the ability to reduce your heating bill.
1 - Find a warm pair of socks.
Sounds silly, but feet that are cold will send that feeling all over the body. Making a point to wear socks or slippers around during the cold days. If you are still feeling cold, you can add layers and bundle up.
2 - Make use of the heat that is available.
There are activities that you can do which generate warmth around the house. Cooking a meal or taking a shower are simple ways to get heat. Keeping the door open while taking a shower will allow the steam to escape into the rest of the house, putting some of that excess heat to better use. Just be sure not to turn on the ventilation fan, as it will remove the precious heat you are creating.
3 - Trim the thermostat by two or three degrees.
You will not really notice the change until you get your bill, when you notice that you have shaved up to ten percent off of your heating bill. If you will be leaving the home for several hours, it can also save you money to turn the thermostat down.
4 - Turn down the water heater.
This is another adjustment that can be hard to notice. Turning down the water heater will save as much energy as the thermostat adjustment.
5 - Upgrade the thermostat.
Buy a programmable thermostat, typically costing no more than $100. That money will be made back when the thermostat will only heat the home while you are home, setting the temperature lower for when you are at work or sleeping.
6 - Keep the heat that you have.
Make sure that doors and windows are shut. Leaving them open will let heat out and make the system work much more harder than it has to. If you have a fireplace, make sure to keep the flue closed and that glass doors covering the fireplace are closed. Also make sure that ventilation systems are turned off when they are not needed.
7 - Get a home physical.
Just as you go in for a check up every year, you should call a professional to come in and make sure proper maintenance is performed on your systems. This will ensure that your systems are running efficiently and in a most cost effective manner. You should also make sure that all filters are clean.
8 - Cover your windows when it is dark.
With out the sun working to heat the home from the outside, uncovered windows will let heat out of the home. Conversely, have windows open during the day to let heat into the home.
9. Examine your home from the outside.
Check your heating unit, making sure that anything that is up against it is removed and prevented from blocking air flow. Use a hose to clear off dirt and debris from the unit. If there is excess water, there may be a condensate drainage problem.
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Originally posted 2009-01-30 05:58:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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