4 Tips to saving money on your heating bill

Climate change is just one of the things that is making us realize that higher heating bills continue to arrive with our mail. Sometimes, you might even think about refusing your mailman access to your mailbox. Fortunately, there are many ways to lower the cost of your heating bill and the following steps may help you to make this happen.

• Seal doors and windows: There are many environmental factors that can affect the shape, and therefore usefulness, of your weatherstrips. Dust, humidity and excessive heat all cause weatherstrips to become worn and warped. This leads to cold drafts entering your house from the outside and heat escaping from the inside. Both of these factors affect the internal temperature of your home. It is very important that you immediately replace the stripping when you detect that it is getting old or when you start hearing wind drafts entering your home.
• Check walls and all kind of installations: Whenever you get anything installed in your house, it is very important to supervise the job. You don’t want any cracks or uncovered holes in your walls, as this leads to a lower house temperature. It is necessary to seal every possible connection with the outside, including piping, electrical boxes and cables. These small holes and cracks may seem insignificant but even the smallest opening can cause a major increase in your bill.
• Turn down the furnace: Having the heat on all the time is likely the biggest reason why your heating bill is sky high. Regardless of whether you prevent drafts or not, the furnace, itself, consumes a lot of energy. A very good thing to do is to keep the furnace off as much as you can. If you spend most of your day in a specific room of the house, something that really could help is to get a portable heater. Portable heaters consume way less energy than running your heat all day. Energy efficient models are available for purchase and while the cost may be higher upfront, the long-term savings is worth it! Of course, this method is most useful to those who spend a majority of their day in one room. If you move around a lot, consider purchasing a comfortable house coat. On another note, be sure to keep an eye on the function and shape of your thermostat, as any small malfunction can cost you lots of extra money.
• Insulate your roof: One of the most effective ways to save energy and money is to have a properly insulated roof installed. This is a practice that is becoming more and more popular, as it can represent a significant savings in your heating bill. The exact number depends on the type of roof insulation that you install and the method of installation. Nowadays, a lot of people are trying to follow the popular trend of DIY (Do It Yourself), in order to save money. However, if you choose this route, be very careful, as you need to make sure that you have the skills and tools to do the job correctly. DIY roof insulation is not something that should be played with. It can be the difference between saving money and keeping your home in very good condition and making a huge mess leading to even higher bills and unnecessary repair works. You can find many websites and youtube videos that can lead you through this type of project, however, if you are not confident in yourself, you may want to higher a specialist.