Saving money is a challenge in the best of times – there’s always a new bill on the table. But as the weather cools down and winter storms in, you can easily find your bills eating up more and more of your disposable income. Combine the added daily expenses with the cost of the holidays, and you can find yourself struggling to keep up.
This winter doesn’t let high heating bills eat way your savings. Use these five tips for keeping your home warm for less and enjoy the savings.
1) Bring in the Sun
Old farmhouses that you can find out in the country used trees to mitigate the effects of the elements before modern heating and air conditioning. They would plant evergreens to the north and deciduous trees in the south and west. The evergreens would block the Arctic winds in the winter. The deciduous trees would keep the sun from overheating the house in the summer, but come winter let the sun shine through to warm things up. You can do the same with your curtains. Keep your curtains wide open during the day and close them up tight come night. The sun is a powerful source of heat.
2) Furnace Maintenance & Repair
A well-maintained furnace is the secret to efficient home heating and making sure your furnace doesn’t break down in the middle of winter. One of the easiest things you can do to make sure your furnace is running smoothly is changing the air filter every month or two. You can find cleanable, reusable furnace air filters or disposable ones.
For an annual tune-up, you can call a furnace technician or sign up for an annual furnace maintenance plan. Furnace maintenance plans will put your mind at ease.
If your furnace suddenly stops working altogether, find out what to check on your furnace to get it running again. You can also call a 24/7 emergency furnace technician if a problem arises.
3) Install a Programmable Thermostat
You don’t always need to keep your home warm and toasty. Use a programmable or smart thermostat to reduce the temperature when everyone is away at work and school. The size of the savings depends on where you live. Lowering your thermostat five degrees during the day will make a bigger difference in very cold climates.
The US Department of Energy suggests that when properly used, a programmable thermostat can save you between 10-15% on your heating costs.
4) Invest in an Energy Efficient Furnace
If you have money to spend on home improvements now to save you money down the road, invest in an energy efficient furnace. Furnaces today can be as much as 98% efficient, compared to 80% only twenty years ago. You can reduce your energy costs with a better furnace.
5) Shut Off Rooms Not in Use
Are you heating guest rooms where nobody’s staying? By shutting doors and closing vents, you can save your heat for the rooms your family spends time in. Remember to open the vents before guests arrive to warm things back up.
Your energy bill is an easy target for saving money. Enjoy more disposable income with these five tips for saving on your heating bills.
