With home heating costs going sky high, you should really take whatever steps you can now to save on the money you will be spending this winter. Oil prices are high, but so is natural gas and propane. Be prepared.
Insulate your windows and doors. Drafty homes loose most of their heat through old windows and doors. Even new windows that are not properly sealed can let out precious heat. There are a number of things that you can do to insulate your windows and doors. The first is to add weather stripping and caulk around doors and windows. It is inexpensive, easy to do and can save hundreds of heating dollars. There is a special caulk you can buy that can be removed in the spring, if you like.
Make sure that any cracks in the door are repaired with caulk, wood putty, or whatever is appropriate, or replace your door with an insulated fiberglass door.
Plastic window film for the windows is a great way to seal everything off. The plastic is usually easy to install and will keep those drafts out of your home. In the spring, just remove the plastic. It can be reused if stored properly. We plan on doing this soon.
Purchase a programmable thermostat if you can’t stand a cold home and don’t want to waste money. Last year, I was the programmable thermostat. I routinely woke up to a house that was in the 50s. Bundled up as an eskimo, I would then turn on the heat downstairs so the rest of the family would be relatively warm. But a programmable thermostat is a great idea, especially if you are usually out of the house during the day and don’t want to return home to a frigid house. You’ll save money by not having the heat on when you don’t need it. Older thermostats may not work properly, either, and you may lose money when they keep turning on the furnace without need.
Check back again, when I offer more ideas for saving money on home heating.
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
This Winter Will Be a Cold One!
Home Heating Costs: Have You Done the Snow Test?
One Simple Way to Lower Your Heating Cost
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