5 Ways to Save Money on Your Heating Bill

When the temperatures drop, you’ll feel the urge to crank the thermostat up and hunker down for the season. So, with the continued rise in energy costs, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of cheap ways to heat your home. These tips can help you stay warm all winter long without blowing the top on your budget.

How to Lower Your Heating Bills This Winter

From easy fixes to major upgrades, these ways to save on heating costs will help you keep your bills low in the long run.

1. Seal Any Air Leaks

Weather stripping is a simple, affordable way to lower your electric bill in winter. If you can see light around doors and windows, you should easily be able to handle the problem yourself with common weather stripping tape found at any hardware store. If you can feel air flowing around a window, running a bead of caulk around the edges can provide a tight seal and help you save energy in winter.

1. Insulate Your Attic

A well-sealed and insulated attic can make a real difference in your energy bills and how comfortable your home is. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and basements.

1. Install a Geothermal Heat Pump

Geothermal heat pumps tap into the relatively constant and more favorable temperatures found a few feet below the earth's surface to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. While the installation price of a geothermal system can be high compared to a traditional central heating system, the additional costs may be returned in energy savings in five to 10 years, depending on the cost of energy and available tax credits.

1. Cover Your Windows

Hold your hand in front of a window on a cold day — do you feel a breeze? If so, your energy costs could be going right out the window. Inefficient windows can be expensive to replace. Instead, add plastic sheeting to windows. This will add insulation, reduce drafts and keep your home warmer this winter. Additionally, consider buying window treatments that have a heavy lining that keeps the drafts to a minimum, and helps maintain the heat that your furnace produces.

1. Take Advantage of Sunny Days

Letting the sun in is the cheapest way to heat your home. When the sun comes out in the winter, pull the shades back on the windows in your home, especially south-facing windows, to let optimal sunshine in. Just don't forget to draw the blinds at night to help insulate your home from the colder evening air.

Find More Ways to Save

Your Farm Bureau agent can identify discounts and other ways to lower the cost of your homeowners insurance. Schedule a meeting today.