How to Cut Heating Costs in Winter

There are so many ways to cut your heating costs in winter, and most of them don't take much time or money to complete. Check your air filters, get regular tune-ups, check your insulation, seal heating ducts, join an oil co-op, check your air filters and install programmable thermostats and you'll save hundreds if not thousands per year.

Maintain Heating System

The more your heating system is maintained, the more efficiently it will run. Make sure to get regular tune-ups.

Check Insulation

Is your home's insulation adequate? Add more if it isn't. If you don't you're just throwing heat away through your attic or top floor.

Seal Heating Ducts

Your ducts are a primary place where you can lose a lot of heat. Increase the efficiency of your heating system by up to 20% by sealing all ductwork, focusing on the garage, basement and attic.

Oil Co-Ops

OIl co-ops give the individual customer the power of numbers. By joining a co-op members are able to negotiate better prices, usually between 15 and 30 cents a gallon off.

Check Air Filters

Don't let the air filter of your heating system become dirty, because that just slows the flow of air through the ductwork. The minimum recommended change time from Energy Star is three months.

Programmable Thermostats

Why let your thermostat stay at one position all day when you can program it according to your schedule? Save up to $180 per year with one of these devices.

Conclusion

Now you know how to reduce your heating costs this winter. To gain even more insight into your costs, hire a home energy auditor to gauge exactly the energy efficiency of your home. When you know where you are losing energy, you can make improvements to reach optimal efficiency.