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Of all places we want to feel the most comfortable in our own home. With the rising cost of energy and the seasons changing, we can expect to see increases to our monthly heating bill. Some simple ideas are listed below to help reduce the cost when the temperature goes down.

1. Dress For The Occasion
Dress accordingly for the temperature and put more blankets on the beds. Wearing a cozy sweater or long sleeve shirt allows you to lower your homes temperature by a few degrees. Putting more blankets on the bed will keep you warm throughout the night while you are sleeping. This will allow you to run your furnace less.

2. Turn Off The Heat
Automatic thermostats allow the temperature to be reduced when no one is home or everyone is sleeping. Several different programmable models can accommodate busy work schedules and weekends. Program the times you are sleeping and the times you are away to lower a temperature. This will reduce the amount you run your furnace.

3. Limit The Space You Heat
Keep the doors shut in rooms you don't use. Turn off the heating registers in those rooms by covering or limiting the size of openings. This works well for forced air or gravity heating. Turn down the valves on water radiators. Seal the windows with cellophane plastic, several inexpensive kits are available on the market. This will reduce the volume of area that you need to heat. Makes sure some heat is getting in the room to prevent frozen pipes.

4. Insulate Your Home
Make sure your home has proper insulation. Make a trip up to the attic to see if any insulation is missing or not layered properly. Check the basement windows for holes or cracks and seal them off properly. Check for breezes or coming through windows or door sills. If there is a breeze, fix or seal it. A good sign of a well insulated attic is when there is snow on the roof.

5. Other Ideas
Open the curtains to let sun light in during the day to take advantage of radiant heating. You can close your curtains in the evening to create a barrier to prevent the heat from escaping. Try burning candles, they can really take the edge off a chilly evening.

Learn more about this author, Christopher Skjonsby.
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