7 tips to help you lower your heating costs and stay warm this winter season

You might have heard that you sometimes need to spend money to save money. The good news is that when it comes to ways to save on heating, you often do not have to spend much money at all, if any. Here are 7 simple things you can do to help lower your heating costs and stay warm this winter.

During the day open up shades and curtains to take advantage of the warm sun. When the sun goes down remember to close them to retain the warmth and reduce heat loss.

Install a “SMART” thermostat. If you already have one, take some time to review its features and capabilities. By lowering the temperature when you’re not at home during the day – or at night when you’re sleeping – you’ll save over the course of the heating season.

Close doors and air vents to any unused rooms in your home.

Remember to close closet doors and fireplace damper when not in use and remove air conditioning units from windows during the winter months.

Arrange furniture away from radiators and heaters. This will help with air circulation, also your system won’t have to work as hard to keep you warm.

During the heating season, set your ceiling fans to clockwise, this will push warm air back down into your living space. Remember to turn it back in the spring time.

Seal drafty windows. Heat loss through drafty windows can account for the majority of residential heating energy use. Check to see if you feel a draft around your windows, if so, caulk and weather strip your windows or consider installing plastic. Be aware of which side of your house faces in a northerly direction as the rooms on that side will undoubtedly be the coldest, and the most susceptible to heat loss. If you have an older home, with older windows, consider replacing them to increase your home’s energy efficiency. In some cases there are tax credits available for such an upgrade.