How to Reduce Your Energy Bill This Winter

Times are tough in this economy, so it's a good idea to save money whenever you can. Unfortunately, the skyrocketing utility bill is an unwanted monthly guest during the cold winter months. But it doesn't make any sense to keep the heater off and freeze your family.

So here are some tips to reduce your energy bill.

If you have some money to spare, replace your old appliances with Energy Star appliances. Wikipedia states that appliances which have the Energy Star logo generally use 20%-30% less energy than what is required by federal standards. However, only buy such appliances if you have some extra money because they may save you money in the long run, but they will cost you an arm and a leg upfront.

Check the furnace ducts in each room of your house to make sure nothing is blocking the vents. Things like long curtains, furniture or large toys can block the air flow which will make the heater work harder to heat the rooms to the chosen temperature.

If you have and use the dishwasher on a daily basis and you don't have the urgency to have dishes dry right away, you can choose the "air dry" option. Your dishes will dry much slower but this will help reduce the energy bill.

Shell out a few extra bucks on replacing incandescent light bulbs with the new energy efficient ones. They cost a little bit more upfront. However, the new energy efficient bulbs don't use nearly as much energy as their old counterparts. Plus, they last a lot longer.

Also, if you can stand to live in a home where you can turn down the temperature even by a few degrees, you will be saving money on the energy bill. If you and your family get cold, bundle up with warmer clothes and blankets. Hot cup of coffee or hot cocoa helps too!

Another thing you can do is install timers in all the bathrooms, especially the ones that get used the most. A lot of people will turn on the exhaust fan when they take a shower. But then they will leave it on long after they are finished. A timer will automatically turn the lights and/or fan off.

To save several hundred dollars a year on your energy bill, you can replace your old thermostat with a digital one that you can program. This will allow you to make sure that the house is not being heated when no one is at home. Also, if you plan on traveling, make sure to turn off the heater while you're away.

You can also clean the underside of the refrigerator. While this is a dirty task that many people neglect to do, the compressor has to work harder when there is too much dust. Don't forget to clean the coils on the backside of the refrigerator. Dust tends to build up there too.

Check your windows and doors for drafts. If you feel a draft, it's time to recaulk the windows and replace the weatherstripping.

Get into the habit of checking your air filter monthly, especially during the winter months because of heavy use. If the filter looks dirty, it's time to replace it. Try to change out the filter with a new one every three months. If you don't change out the dirty filter, it will slow the air flow and make the heating system work hard to heat your house.

If there are rooms in your house that get little or no use, close the vents. There's no need to heat up a room that isn't being used! Such rooms include the basement, storage rooms, laundry rooms, and guest bedrooms that aren't currently being occupied. Don't forget to close the door to that room, or else the vents from adjacent rooms will try to heat it up as well.

Doing a combination of any of the tips will surely help you reduce and take control of your energy bill.

Wikipedia, "Energy Star"