With all the cold winter weather this year you want to make sure your using efficient heating.
The basic principles of efficient heating are keeping the warm air in and the cold air out! You also want to keep your heater or furnace in tip-top shape. Here are a few steps you can take to ensure a cozy winter without wearing your parka indoors!
When your heat is on, set your thermostat as low as possible. Lower the thermostat to 55F degrees at night. Even a few degrees will lead to considerable savings. Just wear a sweater during the day or add an extra blanket to your bed to stay warm.
Make sure your windows next to the thermostat are closed tightly so that the rest of the house is not several degrees warmer than the area around the thermostat.
Make sure your heating system is operating efficiently. Check your filter every other month during the winter. Clean the filter as needed and replace when it appears to be worn out. Oil fired heating systems should be cleaned once a year. Gas fired and heat pumps need to be tuned only once every two years.
Close off any unoccupied rooms or rooms not currently in use. Turn the heat down if you can, although if there are water pipes in the room make sure the temperature doesn’t go below freezing!
Keep your fireplace damper closed when not in use. It also helps to install a glass front to keep warm air from going up the chimney.
The days are getting longer and spring will be here in just a few months. In the meantime take a few steps to make your house more energy efficient and save yourself some money!
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