by JQ Adams

Created on: January 15, 2009

If you have opened up any major newspaper in the last few weeks, chances are you'll have seen some sort of article indicating that the cost of keeping your home warm during the winter would be increasing dramatically, especially if you use home heating oil or propane. Consumers who use these products will likely see a whopping 20% increase in their monthly heating bills, and the 60% of Americans who heat their homes with natural gas will face a 10% increase in their monthly heat bill. Heating costs seem to rise every winter and cost some people thousands of dollars each year just to prevent their home from freezing during the winter, fortunately there are some things you can do to cut back against these rising costs.

Change Your Air Filter Check your air filter in your heating and cooling ducts every month. If it looks dirty, swap it out for a new one. The EPA recommends that you change your air filter at least once every three months. If your filter is dirty, it will slow down air flow and force your home to work harder to keep your house warm. A clean filter also prevents dirty from building up in the system which can lead to expensive maintenance bills.

Get a Programmable Thermostat A programmable thermostat is a great way to control the temperature in your home and can save you $150 a year if you tune it properly. Essentially the idea is that you can set your home to be a bit cooler when you're not home, so you don't waste as much energy when there's no one around to enjoy the heat during the winter and the cool air during the summer.

Switch to Compact Florescent Light bulbs These new light bulbs seem to be the wave of the future. They consume far less energy and are far more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, some analysts believe that for every incandescent bulb you switch to a compact florescent, you'll save $30 a year in your utility bill.

Seal your Heating Ducts The ducts that move the air from your furnace to the different areas of your house are major wasters of heat. By sealing and insulating your ducts, you can increase the efficiency of your furnace by up to 20%.

Seal any Holes In Your Home A lot of older homes have small holes that allow cool air to come in and hot air to escape. Make sure your windows, doors, and any other potential holes are sealed up tight so that heat doesn't escape.

Get Better Insulation If you have a home with poor insulation, consider taking the time to either insulate your attic yourself, or hire someone to do it for you if you are physically unable. It's not a very expensive thing to do, and over the long run the money you save from decreased energy bills will be well worth it.

Tune-up your HVAC equipment Just like your car needs a tune-up every now and then, your furnace needs a tune-up every fall. A good tune-up each year will significantly increase the efficiency of your furnace or heat pump and be well worth the fee you pay. The EPA has come up with some good guidelines to find a contractor to do this for you.

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