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Turn Up the Heat and Turn Up the Savings

Published on September 10th, 2014

You are probably still in a state of denial, but summer is just about done. Before we know it, winter will be rearing its ugly head and we will be back to wearing layers of clothes and cranking up the heat. With heating comes the inevitable heating bills, which can cause a headache for homeowners everywhere.

How can you keep your heating bills low while staying comfortable in your home?

  • Turn your thermostat down when you are away. You likely don’t need your home to be warm and cozy when there’s no one in it, so turn it down 10 degrees when you leave for work in the morning, and again when you go to sleep. This alone can save you over 10% on energy bill.
  • A fan in your kitchen or bathroom can spread warm air throughout the whole house! Once they’ve done that, turn them off.
  • Lower the temperature of your water heater to about 115-120 degrees; it will reduce the power without making a noticeable difference to you when you use your water.
  • If you have a fireplace in your home, keep the damper closed. Not doing so is an open invitation for all the warm air to exit through the chimney and out of the roof.
  • Air circulates most efficiently when vents aren’t obstructed. Whether your vents are on the wall or the floor, keep them clear of clothing, furniture and other objects.
  • Curtains aren’t meant to just look nice with your home decor, they should be used! Keep curtains open during the day to allow sunlight to enter and warm the inside of your home, but keep them closed at night so heat can’t escape.
  • Keep your furnace maintained. The most common reason for spikes in energy bills is a furnace that isn’t functioning properly. Have the furnace inspected annually, preferably before the cooling season so it won’t fail in the dead of winter when you need it most.

 

Courtesy of MSN Real Estate
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107978

 

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