If you are like most people, you like to find ways to save money. With the colder weather, many people look to save money on their home heating bills. The good news is that you can do some things to do just that. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Look at you appliances. As with everything else, when appliances get old, they do not work as well. One home improvement project that can both improve the look of your home but lower your home heating bills is an upgrade of all your appliances that provide heat. There are a number of government programs that are aimed at encouraging homeowners to make the switch to Energy Star rated appliances so making that upgrade may cost much less than you think. It may even pay for itself.
- Do you have ceiling fans? Did you know that if you change their direction, you can change their function? One way will circulate the air down to heat up your room. In warmer months, reverse the fans again to get that cool air up and around your space where you need it the most.
- Look at drafty windows and doors. You can save a lot on your home heating bills and summer cooling costs when you make sure you are providing a great environment for your home and not the whole block. Check you caulking and the spaces around all of your windows and doors. If it has been a while since you upgraded them, you may find similar programs are available to make your home more energy efficient and cheaper to keep comfortable for you and your family. If you have window leaking or broken windows, your bills will be higher.
- Invest in a new thermostat. Newer models are digital, can be set to heat or cool your home when people are actually going to be in it and can even be set and changed remotely. You can even have a system set up to only use climate control functions in the areas where you and your family spend time. It is also important to check where you have your thermostat. If it is near a source of cool air (a door to the outside, your freezer), you may find it working more than it has to.
- Clean your filters. Not only will the air in your home be healthier to breath but when you filters get clogged, they make your system work a lot harder and that increases your home heating bills. The less strain you can put on your system, the better. Dirty and clogged filters can also be a fire hazard and cause your system to fail completely. These home repairs are also very costly It is much cheaper to change some filters than get a new heating and cooling system for your home.
- Make sure your insulation is doing its job. In a well insulated home, you can set the thermostat and have he temperature in your home remain comfortable for a lot less money. There are state and local codes for your insulation and they are there for a reason. Make sure you are up to date on all of that. Take a look around your home at your insulation, do not forget to check your attic.
- Look at your water heater. While it may be a bit counter intuitive, going tankless can save you a lot of money and get you more bang for your buck. This is one area that people sometimes overlook. You may be able to get more reliable hot water (who like a cold shower or bath in the winter?) when you go with a tankless unit than a traditional model. It is worth looking into.
There are a lot of small things you can do around your home to get your home heating bills lower. Taking care of home drafty issues that you may have is one such thing that you can do to save money making your home warm and cozy for the whole family. While this will not save any money, make sure you check your system before you really need it
