By Mark J. Donovan
With home heating energy costs continuing to rise, many homeowners are searching for ways to save on their oil and gas utility costs this winter. Listed below are a number of tips on how to save on your home’s winter heating bills.
First and foremost, make sure your home heating system if serviced in the fall. Filters should be changed, and flues, nozzles, and burners cleaned. The heating system should also be tuned to ensure maximum heating efficiency.
Second, while having your heating system serviced have the serviceman lower the hot water temperature by 5-10 degrees. You’ll save on energy costs and you will prevent scalds when washing dishes or taking showers.
Third, make sure all of your heating ductwork and pipes in the basement are insulated. You can find foam pipe insulation at any home improvement store and it is simple to install.
Forth, check your attic insulation. If you can see the ceiling rafters in your attic you do not have enough insulation in it. Your attic should have 9 to 15 inches of insulation in it. Also, make sure that the existing attic insulation is installed properly. It should sit flush up against the ceiling rafters.
Fifth, fill your oil and gas tanks in late fall before the extreme cold whether hits. The cost of oil and gas typically skyrockets when the extreme cold whether hits due to a surge in demand due to the cold temperatures and procrastinating homeowners.
Sixth, install a programmable thermostat in your home and set the thermostat 5-10 degrees lower when you are away from the home for extended hours and during the night when you are asleep.
Seven, in the fall check the caulk around your exterior doors and windows. If they are not already caulked or the caulk is old and cracking install new caulk. Doors and windows that are not caulked are havens for drafts within your home.
Eight, while checking your exterior doors for caulking also examine the door weather stripping. If it is old and you can see light seeping in-between the door and door jambs it is time to replace the door weather stripping.
Finally, install flow-restrictors on your home’s shower heads to minimize the amount of hot water used during showers.
By implementing these simple home heating energy savings tips you can dramatically reduce your home’s heating bill costs this winter while still staying warm.
About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more information about Home Improvement and Home Additions, and Home Remodeling and Repair visit homeadditionplus.com and homeaddition.blogspot.com.
