When winter arrives, it is normal to reach for the thermostat to turn on the furnace and crank the heat. This keeps your home warm and toasty and ensures you can be comfortable, even when the weather outside is frightful.
Unfortunately, running your furnace day in and day out can be expensive and send your energy bills to the moon. However, a sky-high energy bill every winter doesn’t have to be something you deal with.
With that in mind, this article is going to go over a few things you can do to keep your winter energy bills low.
Keep Your Furnace in Good Shape
One of the biggest contributors to your high energy bills in the winter is your furnace. While many people simply leave their furnaces alone and don’t think much about it, maintaining your furnace is something you shouldn’t forget.
If your furnace isn’t working well for one reason or another (due to damage, a clogged filter, or another issue altogether) it can ruin its efficiency and send your bills skyrocketing. Not only that, but these issues can also contribute to the system breaking down faster than it would if it was working how it’s supposed to.
As a result, consider having an expert come out to your home annually to check on your furnace to make sure all is well and it is ready for winter. Also, investing in a programmable thermostat can help you save money on bills. They will prevent you from accidentally leaving the system on, as you can program your heating to kick on and off precisely when you want.
Bundle Up
While there are many ways to stay warm without cranking the heat, one of the best is to bundle up and dress in layers. If you are wearing shorts and a tank top in your home all winter long, you shouldn’t be surprised when you are cold. Adding on a couple of layers can not only keep you warmer but eliminate the need to crank the thermostats.
Using blankets and other ways to keep warm can also be a good idea. Staying warm this way may allow you to decrease the temperature in your home by a degree or two, which can help keep your bills under control and even prolong the life of your furnace at the same time.
Get a Tight Seal on Your Home
Another tip is to ensure you have a tight seal on your home to prevent the cold outdoor air from entering through cracks or holes. If all of this cool air is entering your home, it will force your furnace to work harder to keep your home warm, which isn’t cheap.
The cost of air leaks in your home has the potential to be quite high, so take time to locate and fill all drafty spots before winter arrives. Locating these is often as easy as running your hands up and down walls and seeing if you feel cold spots. These leaks are generally around windows and door frames, but can technically be anywhere.
In conclusion, we hope that this guide has been able to help you learn some great tactics for keeping your winter energy bills low.
