Heating Tips

• Make sure all storm windows are closed.
• On windows that face the sun, leave draperies open during the day. At night, close drapes to help keep the heat inside.
• Turn off the range hood fan as soon as you are done using it. It can drain the house of heated air in just one hour.
• Restrict or limit the use of portable electric space heaters. A 1,200 watt space heater left operating 12 hours a day will cost more than $85 over the course of the heating season.
• Remember to close the chimney flue when the fireplace is not in use.
• Keep your garage door closed.
• If you're going on vacation, set your thermostat at 55 degrees.
• Consider budget billing. It spreads the cost of your heating bill over 12 months.
• Apply for assistance from Mid-Central Community Action (Low income home energy assistance program-LIHEAP).
• Establish a deferred payment arrangement-if you are behind in your gas bill, make a down payment and spread the cost over the next four months.
• Set your thermostat between 60-69 degrees.
• Don't block air circulation at registers.
• Close storm windows.
• Lock windows.
• Replace weather stripping and seals on windows and doors. You will save between five and ten percent on your annual heating and cooling costs.
• Install ceiling fans. During the winter months, set them to go clockwise, re-circulating hot air at the ceiling.
• Keep the insulation in your attic dry and effective by repairing leaks in your roof.
• Use caulking, sealant, or weather-striping to weatherize all seams, cracks and openings around windows, doors and baseboards, as well as the small openings around television cables, dryer vents, and plumbing pipes.
• Schedule an annual inspection of your heating system. A qualified contractor can inspect your furnace to ensure it is working properly.
• If your furnace is old, replacing it with a new, high efficiency furnace can save valuable energy dollars.
• Install a storm door with weather-stripping and bottom sweep to seal the elements outside. Replace thresholds so the cold doesn't sneak under the door.
• Install a setback (programmable) thermostat to automatically lower the temperature setting at night or during unoccupied periods. A ten degree setback at night will save approximately five to fifteen percent on annual heating costs. For an average size home, the annual savings would be approximately $72.
• Plant trees that shade your home to keep the cooling costs down. Leafy trees shade best on the south and west sides. Deciduous trees that lost their leaves in the winter help you cool in the summer and warm the house in the winter by letting in sun. Plant evergreen trees to serve as wind breakers.
• Get your air ducts sealed by a professional HVAC contractor. According to the Department of Energy, you can lose up to 40 percent of your heated or cooled air through leaks in your ductwork.
• Add insulation to your attic. Purchase insulation with a high R-value (the higher the R-value, the better it will work). Insulation can also act as a sound absorber or barrier, keeping noise levels down.
• Replace windows with new energy-efficient windows.
• Replacing weather stripping and seals on windows and door can save between 5 and 10 percent on your annual heating costs.