Simple, Low Cost Ways to Cut Heating Costs

Save money and save energy heating your home in the winter by making these minor adjustments to the way you live. The payoff is lower heating bills.

By Gene And Katie Hamilton

These simple solutions to lowering your heating bill cost next-to-nothing but pay back in reducing your energy bills during the cold weather months. Make these adjustments and enjoy a warm winter indoors without breaking your budget.

• Replace the filter in your heating system every month so it can work efficiently. A dirty filter blocks the air flow making it work harder to heat your rooms.
• Close doors and heating ducts in unused or seldom-used room, don't pay to heat them.
• Move furniture off of and away from heating ducts so it doesn't prevent the flow of heated air in a room.
• Seal gaps around doors and windows with caulk to button up the openings where cold air can enter. For drafty windows use a window insulation kit to cover the entire window.
• If there is an attached garage install a garage door threshold that seals the gap against cold air, rain and snow.
• To keep heated air from escaping up the chimney, close the damper of the fireplace.
• Keep draperies or window shades open on the sunny side of your house.
• Hire a local heating and cooling professional to tune up your system every year to keep it running at peak performance.

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