Easy No Cost and Low Cost Ways to Lower Your Heating Bill

This is the time of year many people around the midwest open their utility bill and stare in shock. However, it doesn't have to be that way. There are many ways to reduce your gas bill and most are very quick and inexpensive. Even the ones that have higher upfront costs will pay for themselves rather quickly with the savings.

Most houses have many cracks and leaks that add up to the size of a window standing open all winter. Self-adhesive weather-stripping can be applied to all moveable parts of a doors and windows. Caulk can be used around the non-moving parts and frames. These two items alone will help quite a bit. Adding a draft guard under the door is also a great energy saver. Caulk and weather-stripping is very inexpensive and you can do your entire house in an afternoon.

Buy a programable thermostat, or just remember to change it several times a day. If no one is home during the day, turn the temperature down to 60. At night, turn it down to 65 or as low as you can make it and still be comfortable sleeping. Make sure all vents and air intakes are clear. It's hard for the warm air to circulate when it's obstructed. Change or clean your filters monthly - the harder the furnace needs to work, the more energy it uses.

When insulation is suggested, most people think first of the attic. That is a good place to start because insulation can settle over the years. It's a good bet that your house could use some additional insulation in the attic. This isn't a cheap solution, but it's well worth the investment and will pay for itself over time. Another place to insulate is the ceiling of the crawlspace. Adding insulation into walls is very expensive and not very practical but you can put little foam 'gaskets' under your outlet and lightswitch covers on the external walls. You can often feel a draft near them.

Keep your ductwork in good repair. It's not uncommon for joints to become disconnected. When that happens, you are simply blowing hot air into the crawlspace or attic and wasting it. Go into the attic and crawlspace to inspect all visible ductwork and connect all joints and patch holes. Once you are sure there are no leaks, cover all exposed ductwork with insulation.

Avoid using bathroom and kitchen fans. It only takes an hour or so for one of these fans to empty all the warm air in the house. Open your curtains and blinds during the day so the sun can help heat the house. Close at night to help keep the warm air inside.

If you do just a few of these, you should see a change on your next heating bill.