Easy Things That You Can Do To Lower Your Annual Heating Costs

You shouldn't wait until cold weather hits to start thinking about how you're going to make sure your heating costs aren't sky high. You need to start preparing for the winter weather before it actually gets cold. Learn how you can prepare your home for cold weather so that your heating costs don't put a huge dent in your budget.

Furnace Repairs and Maintenance

Before it gets cold outside, you should have your furnace inspected by a professional to ensure it's working properly. Around 75 percent of heater repair calls in the winter could be avoided by having an annual furnace inspection completed. When you have your furnace inspected, the technician will be able to spot any small furnace issues. This way, if any repairs are needed, they can be made right away — before they become more costly problems.

Part of maintaining your furnace means changing the furnace filter on a regular basis. When your furnace filter gets dirty, your furnace has to work extra hard to push warm air through the filter into your home. The harder your furnace works, the more energy it consumes. If you change the filter in your furnace on a monthly basis throughout the winter season, it can decrease your yearly heating bill by between five and 15 percent and help keep the air in your home clean. 

Cover Your Windows

If you have older windows that aren't energy efficient, you could end up losing a lot of the heat your furnace is producing through the window seals. You can keep the heat inside your house by covering your windows with plastic during the winter months. Simply purchase a window insulator kit at your local hardware store and follow the included instructions to cover your windows. The extra insulation will help keep the heat in your house so that your furnace doesn't have to run as often, which in turn, will lower your heating costs.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

You can make it easy to control the temperature in your home by installing a programmable thermostat. This way, you can set your thermostat so that the temperature in your house is cooler while you're at work or asleep. By doing this, your furnace won't kick on as often, which will save up to 10 percent on your annual heating costs. Program your thermostat so that you maintain a 68-degree Fahrenheit temperature when you're home and awake. Then, set the thermostat 10 to 15 degrees lower while you're away or asleep.

It isn't difficult to lower your annual heating costs, but you do need to prepare your home for the winter season before the weather gets cold. This way, you don't have to worry about having heater repairs completed and trying to insulate your windows when your house gets too cold. By completing everything you need to do before winter, your house will stay comfortable and you'll save money all season long.