by Kelly Szymanski

Created on: September 29, 2010   Last Updated: September 30, 2010

Let's face it: no one wants to live in a cold house. But we don't want those outrageously high home heating bills, either. So, what's a body to do? A few jumping off places:

     *Have your energy company come out every 2 or 3 years and do a home energy audit. Let the pro's walk through your house and tell you where you money is leaking out.

     *Have your furnace cleaned annually, ideally about a month before you think you will need to turn it on. A clean furnace is a more efficient furnace.

     *Clean or replace your furnace filter every month. You don't need one of those fancy, expensive filters. The higher the density of the filter the harder your furnace will have to work. That's hard on your furnace, and on your heating bill.

     *Insulate your hot water heater and pipes. It will help keep the heat in the water where you want it.

     *Seal up any drafts. That may seem obvious, but it's only obvious if you know where to look. Check the basement windows and go up in the attic and feel around for any drafty spots.

     *Let the sun shine in. Keep the blinds and curtains open during the day so nature can help you stay warm. A sun-drenched room not only looks more inviting, it feels more inviting, too.

     *Make sure your weather stripping is in good repair. Weather stripping is readily available at most hardware stores, in inexpensive and easy to replace. Well worth the effort.

     *Use caulk to seal any cracks on the outside of your house and around any vents.

     *Use plastic window seals to seal up any windows you are not likely to use over the winter. Don't close off all of them: you want to allow access for fresh air and to release any toxins, smoke, for example.

     * Cook and bake at home. Steam from pots cooking on the stove and the heat from the oven make a home feel warm and welcome.

     *Wear socks to bed. If you've never tried it, give it a shot. Your body will stay warmer allowing you to set the thermostat a little lower at night. You'll sleep better, too.

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