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Save Money on Heating Costs this Winter with These Simple Tricks

heating-463904_1280Winter weather is no joke when it comes to your heating bill. Depending on where you live, harsh winters can cause you to run your heat every day and that increase on your bill each month can cause your budget to become tight in some other areas.

Trying to save on heating costs can be discouraging because you have to run your heat in the winter to stay warm. On the contrary, these helpful tricks will allow you to save money on heating costs and lower your heating bill for the winter.

Get a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are perfect for controlling how often your heat runs so you don’t have to monitor it yourself. You simply program your thermostat to run during certain hours and you can set it to turn off while you are away from home to save on heating costs.

According to Energy.gov, a programmable thermostat can save you an estimated 10 percent per year on heating and cooling costs.

Keep Your Home Naturally Warm by Cooking More

The heat from your oven can help keep your home warm so you can delay turning on your heat and keep it set at a lower temperature. Cooking at home also saves you money on food costs as well.

Try to cook most meals in your oven and leave your oven open while it’s pre-heating or cooling down.

Invest in a Space Heater for One Main Room

If you spend most of your time in one room, you might want to purchase a small space heater to use instead of running the heat. Yes, the space heater will still use up some energy, but it won’t cost nearly as much as blasting the heat.

If you have pets or small children in your household, you should use a space heater with caution and turn it off when not in use.

Seal Your Windows and Gaps in Doors

Winter wind can easily make it into your home if your windows and doors are not properly shielded. You can purchase plastic wrap or weather stripping material from your local Home Depot to place over the windows in your home to help keep the cold out and the warmth in.

If your front or back door has a gap at the bottom that lets outside air into your home, you can easily install a door seal to fix the problem for only $10-12. Making sure your home is properly insulated will allow you to use the furnace less thus lowering your heating bill each month.

Stay Bundled Up

Staying bundled up is key if you don’t want to blast your heat 24/7 during the winter. Wear warm and comfortable clothing like sweaters and socks around the house to stay warmer without requiring extra heat. If you have a fireplace in your home, you may want to use that as well in addition to staying bundled up.

Sometimes, blasting your heat during the winter becomes inevitable eventually but you can keep your bill lower by delaying turning on your heat for as long as you can.

Be sure to follow all of these steps so you can cut heating costs and have more money in your pocket to use as you please after the winter season has passed.

Do you live in an area with harsh winters? How do you maintain your heating bill in the winter?

Posted in: Life Hacks, Saving Money

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