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Winter is in full swing and the cost of heating your home has been steadily increasing as temperatures plummet. We’re about to see a 2nd snow storm in a week which is practically unheard of in my area of VA!
If you’ve been watching your meter spin trying to keep up with the demand of frigid temperatures, follow these frugal heating tips and you can save big on your energy bill.
10 Frugal Heating Tips:
1. Turn your thermostat down a degree each day until you find your optimal temperature. You will likely be comfortable at a cooler temperature than you may think. You should save about 3 percent on your heating bill for every degree that you set back your thermostat. Can you tell a difference between 70 degrees and 67 degrees? I can’t!
2. If you’re not already on the budget plan for your utilities such as gas and electric, you should look into the option. The budget plan allows you to avoid seasonal fluctuations, so you don’t get a surprise bill one month and have your whole budget thrown off track. The monthly budget bill amount is based on an average of your usage.
3. Reverse your ceiling fans to run clockwise at a low speed to help push warm air down.
4. Change or clean your filters to keep your heating system running efficiently. Filters get clogged with dust and dirt, so changing them frequently will help with your heating bill and the air quality in your home. Consider investing in a permanent furnace filter which can collect more debris and contaminants than standard filters.
5. Invest in a programmable thermostat. This small investment will allow you to automatically turn the heat down at night when you are sleeping and while you are away for extended periods of time during the day.
6. Check your house for air leaks. Seal cracks around windows with caulk and add weather-stripping or door sweeps to exterior doors. Have older windows? Keep cold drafts out with plastic window insulation kits. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
7. Schedule an appointment to have your chimney inspected and cleaned if you have a wood-burning fireplace. Make sure to keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
8. Use sunlight to help warm a room by opening the curtains to take advantage of direct sunlight. Just make sure to close the curtains when the sun is no longer shining in.
9. Turn down the temperature on your water heater. You could save up to 10% off your energy bill.
10. Put on a sweater and socks. Simple as that. I read (somewhere) that a sweater can add up to 4 degrees of warmth, so snuggle up in your favorite sweater and fuzzy socks to keep you warmer without the need to bump up the thermostat.
Don’t let cold weather bust your budget. Get proactive with these inexpensive money-saving solutions.
What are your Frugal Heating Tips?
I didn’t know there was so much you could do to keep the heat in! I wish I had known this when it was snowing! We just got our unit replaced with a more efficient one though so that should help.