You can still lower your home heating bills even when the temperature drops outside. All it takes is a little effort. After all, sometimes a small investment can slash your bills without sacrificing any comfort.

Here’s how to accomplish this task:

Reduce Drafts

Infiltration of outdoor air is a major reason for increased energy bills. You can reduce chilly drafts by replacing worn out weatherstripping around exterior doors. Then, add more caulk around leaky windows. Finally, seal holes in exterior walls and your attic floor with caulk or expanding spray foam.

Boost Insulation

Your attic is the best place to add insulation. It acts as a cozy blanket on top of your home, keeping heat from rising up and out. Take a peek into your attic. If the floor joists stick up through the insulation, adding another layer can definitely make a difference. Don’t forget to insulate the attic hatch as well.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

One of the best ways to lower home heating bills is to turn down the temperature when you’re away or sleeping. To prevent waking up or coming home to a chilly house, install a programmable thermostat and use it correctly. Setbacks of 10 to 15 degrees for two eight-hour periods per day could save 10 percent on your heating bills.

Use Other Sources of Heat

The furnace is not your home’s only source of heat. Throw open your curtains on sunny days for natural solar heating. You can leave your oven open after baking to heat your kitchen further. You can also discard scrap wood, fallen tree branches or wood pellets into your wood-burning fireplace for free heat. Finally, don a warm sweater and drink a cup of tea or hot chocolate to warm your insides.

Schedule Annual Maintenance

While it costs money to have a technician visit your home to perform furnace maintenance, the tune-up often pays for itself in energy savings. By optimizing your system once a year, you can help it perform longer and more efficiently.

For more tips on how to lower home heating bills, please contact Comfort Systems in Wichita today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wichita, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about lowering heating bills and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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