The weather outside is frightful, but if you follow these money-saving tips, you can avoid a scary heating bill this winter:
- Lower your thermostat. Set it between 68 to 70 degrees when you’re home. Lower the temperature at night. If you’ll be out of the house for longer than 4 hours, lower the temperature to 62 degrees. Remind everyone to put on a sweater, warm pajamas, and wear slippers or socks. Add an extra blanket or quilt to your beds.
- Buy a programmable thermostat. A smart thermostat can be set to change the temperature for you and will only set you back about $75-$150.
- Clean or replace your furnace filters regularly. Inspect them monthly – especially during the colder months.
- Replace worn weather-stripping around window and doors.
- Insulate your attic access door.
- Don’t cover heating registers with furniture or rugs.
- Set your hot water tank to 120 degrees or lower.
- Use lower temperatures when washing laundry. Use a cold rinse whenever possible. Empty the lint trap before every dryer cycle. Consider line-drying clothes instead of using the dryer.
- Open curtains and blinds on sunny winter days to help warm your home, but make sure to close them at night to help keep heat in.
- Limit use of a gas fireplace.
- Restrict warm air from unused areas. Close vents and doors to unused rooms.
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