Save Money on Your Winter Heating Bill

Fall and winter are fast approaching, and with these seasons comes the colder weather. Trying to stay warm and toasty in cold weather months can be expensive. Before deciding to raise the thermostat, try some of these ideas to keep your toes and everything else warm!

First, set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the daytime and 55 degrees at night. Give it a shot. You can always put on a sweater or snuggle under a cozy blanket! You will feel very comfy when you see the improvements these settings can make on your gas/electric bill.

Wear warm-layered clothing inside when it's very cold outside. Keep lap style blankets and quilts on sofas and chairs to make snuggling up easier. Your living rooms and family rooms will just seem warmer and cozier with blankets and throws around.

Let the winter sun shine in as much as possible. Keep all shades and curtains open. Trim and cut back any tree branches that might be blocking sunshine into your windows.

Help keep cold air out by keeping windows closed. You will still need to open the windows regularly though to air out your home. This needs to be done to avoid build-up of toxins.

Check your windowpanes and add new sealant if the putty is looking old or is cracked. If there are cracks in the windows, seal them with weather stripping, cloth or even newspaper. You could also have the cracked panes replaced.

Weather stripping doors and windows should definitely improve your heating bill. Seal off any cracks or holes where heat could escape. Check all doors, windows, walls, and the roof.

You might consider insulating areas such as attics, outside walls, floor spaces, and basements. The amount saved on your gas and electic bills by insulating your home will be well worth the effort.

Try rearranging your furniture so that sofas and chairs are away from cold walls. Your living/family rooms will look cozier that way, and with room for air to circulate, it really does warm up the air in that room.

Caulk any cracks in the fireplace you can see. Keep the fireplace damper closed when you are not using the fireplace. Glass fronts and screens will help reduce loss of heat from the fireplace. Keep the heat turned off when the fireplace is on.

When you are in the kitchen, try keeping fan use down to a minimum to help avoid heat loss. Use tight-fitting lids on pots and pans when cooking. When you can, plan meals that can have all the parts cooking in the oven at the same time. Turn the oven off 5 minutes before the cooking time is over. The heat in the oven will be enough to continue cooking the food.

Earlier bedtimes can help in cold weather seasons. Warm blankets and socks will keep everyone's toes at their very toastiest. On really cold nights, get the family together, grab pillows and blankets and camp out together in a warm bed. Tell ghost stories, play games, or watch movies. It will be fun for the kids, it will heat up all those cold achy bones, and family time together is sure to warm your heat.