How to Save Money on Winter Home Heating Bills

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As the season starts becoming harsher, you can feel the pinch of it in your pocket. Thankfully, there are some easy steps every homeowner can take to lower the bills in winter home heating without feeling the chill at all.

Tweak Your Hot Water Setting – Considering that your water heater sucks up as much as 25% of your energy bills, it is important to get an insulator sleeve for the tank to prevent loss of heat. Plus, reduce the temperature to 120F from the default 140F. For every 10 degrees you cut back, you save 3 – 5% costs in water heating.

Smarten Up Your Thermostat – The best way to ensure that the interiors of your house are comfortable is by investing in a smart thermostat. If that is too costly, smartly work using a regular one. For instance, when you are at work, change the thermostat timings to keep the house cooler by 10 – 15 degrees. Following this tip could actually help you save enough to get a smart thermostat in the first couple of months itself.

Insulate Your Home Like Your Insulate Yourself In Winter – Insulation is not only important to keep the cold at bay but it will also help you keep those pesky high bills in check. Always start by sealing plumbing, ductwork, and cable line penetrations in the house. Then, make sure your house insulation is absolutely up to code, particularly in your attic.

Invest In Energy Efficient Windows – In most houses, the biggest culprit of energy wastage and heat loss are the windows. By investing in energy efficient windows that create a dead air space between window panes, you could save up a lot on heating costs. The ROI on these windows is just 2 years and there is an amazing variety available as well.

Cover Up That Chimney – Most chimneys have a damping system these days but these systems are rarely completely airtight. This means that you are losing vital heat because it is going up the chimney. If a costly retrofit is out of your budget, invest in a simple glass door over your chimney. Other options include a heat exchanger and woodstove.
Change Your Habits – Make it a habit to close rooms that are not being used so that the heating system doesn’t have to work as hard. Change the direction of your ceiling fans to improve circulation of heat. Replace energy hogging bulbs with CFL and also get an app that would monitor the energy consumption in your house.

According to the Department of Energy, almost half the energy used in an average house in the U.S is due to heating and cooling needs. Follow the above mentioned tips for lower bills and more comfortable living.






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