Four Ways To Save Money On Your Heating Costs

Heating your home can be expensive, but by using the following five tips, you can reduce the cost of keeping warm.

Have your heating system serviced

This should be done once a year. A heating technician can do a comprehensive inspection of your heating system and perform a tune-up. This latter work consists of the lubrication and cleaning of essential components. A furnace repair technician will also be able to inspect critical components for signs of impending failure. If problems are found, these components can be replaced before your system breaks down. Keeping your system maintained reduces repair costs.

Insulate your attic

The chances are that you already have some insulation in your attic, but is it sufficient enough to insulate your home? You can inspect the insulation yourself for evidence of any gaps or missing areas of insulation. It is also possible that your home's original insulation was installed according to less energy efficient standards than those in effect today. A heating and air technician can check the heat resistance of your insulation to determine if it is sufficient.

Seal your windows and doors

The best way to seal the edges of both your windows and doors is with weatherstripping. Make sure that all of the windows and exterior doors have sufficient weatherstripping to keep the heat inside. Use plastic to insulate large windows. These windows can be a bigger problem for escaping heat than the seals around a small glass window. The solution is to use large sheets of plastic to cover the glass during the coldest time of the year. Insulating a large glass window, such as the patio window, can have a noticeable effect on your heating bill.

Locate and seal any holes in your house

This type of hole can be from any pipe or cable that is needed to access the interior of your home. One example of this might be a hole for a cable used for a television signal. Often this hole is sealed around the cable only with a piece of plastic, but to form a stronger seal, you need to use a caulking material. Any holes that already have caulked should be inspected for cracks. Fresh caulking should be applied if necessary.

Remember, your first step in reducing heating costs is to get your heating system in peak operating order. Once your heating system is in top condition, don't make it work hard. Insulate and seal your home with the tips listed above.


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