7 Ways to Save On Your Heating Bills

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7 Ways to Save On Your Heating Bills

Looks like it's about time to break out my slippers and sweaters again. Many people believe that life in my neck of the woods--Southern California--is warm and sunny year-round. But even here, fall brings crisp days and chilly nights. Of course, conditions in colder climates are far worse, but we're not quite as well prepared for the cold. Many California houses are built with plentiful windows and wide-open floor plans, so dipping temperatures often result in cold, drafty rooms. So we crank-up our furnaces and, when we do, our heating bills go through the roof.

In the United States, we clearly have vast climate differences. But we all share a desire to stay warm and comfortable in the winter without spending a fortune on heat. With that in mind, let's look at a few ways you can achieve a more comfortable indoor environment while reducing energy costs.

1) Check your thermostat. If it isn't a programmable electronic one, replace it with one that is. A programmable thermostat can automatically adjust room temperature settings to energy-saving levels when you're sleeping or away from the house, eliminating wasteful energy usage. For more about electronic thermostats, see "Choosing the Right Thermostat." See our report for more information on electronic thermostats.

Never set your thermostat higher than it needs to be for comfort. Over a 24-hour period, you can save about 3 percent of your energy costs for every degree you lower the thermostat's set temperature in the winter.

2) Seal up your house. If you haven't already done so, install weather stripping around windows and doors. Caulk any cracks or openings in the siding. And consider installing or repairing storm windows and storm doors. The idea is to prevent your home's expensively-heated air from escaping. See our report for more information on weather stripping.

3) Take advantage of the sun's warmth. Allow radiant energy from sunlight to augment your home's heating system simply by opening drapes and blinds on sunny days.

4) If you can do so relatively inexpensively, consider installing ceiling fans, particularly in rooms with high ceilings. Because warm air rises and can be trapped at the ceiling, a ceiling fan, when run in reverse direction during the winter, will circulate warm air back down to living areas. For more about ceiling fans, see the HomeTips "Ceiling Fans" report.

5) Be sure your home is adequately insulated. If it isn't, increase insulation, particularly in the attic. Not only is the attic usually the easiest place to insulate, but it's where you will see the greatest benefit in energy savings. For an in-depth discussion of insulation, see the HomeTips report on "Insulation."

6) Consider replacing your furnace if it's on its last legs. Forced-air heating systems are by far the most popular type of central heating, but most forced-air systems are sadly out-of-date. Some utilize only 50 percent of the fuel they burn. Newer models take advantage of up to 90 percent of their fuel. For more about these types of furnaces, see "High-Efficiency Furnaces: A Buying Guide."

7) Control the humidity levels in your home. For comfort in winter, your home's relative humidity levels should range from 30 to 50 percent. If they drop below this, the air becomes very dry and higher temperatures are required to feel warm. Conversely, if the air becomes too humid, windows drip with condensation. In most cases, the problem in winter is lack of humidity because using a heater dries out the air. To boost the humidity, you can buy a humidifier, which puts water vapor back into the air. Room or console humdifiers will handle individual rooms and small areas, but for the entire house you'll need a whole-house system that is installed as part of the heating system.

If after taking these measures you still haven't beat the winter chill, do what I do: put on some warm slippers and a sweater and cozy up to a warm fire.

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