Heating Tips

Obviously, heating is the opposite of cooling, and many of the tips in one area could be used for the other. But just in case we missed anything, here are some special tips for heating.

Filter

Clean or replace your heating filter once a month. This will help your system run more efficiently, use less energy, and give it a longer life. Also, an annual inspection and tune-up could save you up to 5% in energy costs every year.

Set thermostats to as low as you feel comfortable during the winter, but when you go on vacation, lower the thermostat to 55°F to save energy.

Curtains, blinds, and shutters are an easy way to save energy. Simply close them at night to keep the cold out, and open them up during the day to let the sun's warmth in.

To keep your home warm, minimize the number of times you open and close doors to the outside. Be especially careful of doors that don't close completely when you walk in or out.

Check for air leaks around windows, fireplaces, doors, attics, and light fixtures. Then seal air leaks with caulking and weather-stripping.

This simple device automatically turns the temperature down when you're in bed or not at home. With the energy costs you'll save, you could pay for your thermostat in less than a year.

You'd think that space heaters would save energy, but actually, they don't save that much in energy costs. What's more, they can be very dangerous, whether they use electricity, kerosene, or propane.

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