by Joe Brooks

Created on: December 18, 2010

You can do a lot to save money on winter heating bills, while spending little or even nothing. Actually though, cheap is a cheap does. If a two or three dollar roll of rope caulk will save twenty or thirty dollars, how about a furnace upgrade for a few hundred dollars that will save thousands over time? That might be considered cheap maintenance in the long run.

When you start applying inexpensive methods for winterizing your home, why not start with free? Thinking is free. Think about the use of your home in winter; consider if there may be rooms you can seal off to save heating; perhaps there are doors or windows that you can seal until spring. Without spending anything, you can remember to close your curtains at night or during cold cloudy days, and open them to let in the warming sun. With no extra money spent, you can put on a sweater or sweatshirt instead of cranking up the heat. On a cold day, you can bake bread and make a big pot of soup. That is not quite free, but is good return on your dollar and energy investment.

For very little money, you can take steps to seal cracks and eliminate drafts. Every opening in your walls can use sealing. Gaskets are available to seal outlets and switch plates. They are inexpensive and you can do that yourself. Caulking is inexpensive, and you can apply it yourself to doors, windows, and anywhere pipes or vents enter or exit your home. If you do not have storm windows, you may get the inexpensive shrink-wrap style sealing kits. It is not a lovely treatment, but does help with the heating bills.

If you do not have a programmable home thermostat, you can purchase and install one. They are not expensive and will repay the purchase cost quickly. If everyone is away from home much of the day, you may consider a timer for your water heater as well. That will save keeping a large tank of water hot when no one is there to use it. Exhaust fans, such as those in the kitchen and bathroom, should be used only as really needed, for they are propelling heated air from your home into the cold outdoors. If you have ceiling fans, those can be reversed to direct warm air downward.

Filters should be changed frequently in winter, as well as during summer months. A clean filter saves heating costs. The things you can do yourself, for little or no money, can help to reduce your winter bills. For the greatest possible savings, though, consider having a professional in to tune up your existing system and possibly advise on upgrades. The services of a qualified heating professional can save you many times the cost, when the winter heating bills start rolling in.

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