Americans spent about $1,000 heating their house during the winter. Fortunately, making a few changes now can pay off big when it comes time to pay your electric, gas or oil bill in a few months.
Seal the attic
Sealing your attic can help prevent heat loss through your roof AND make sure you don’t have leaks where ice and rain can get in. The U.S. Department of Energy offers some recommendations as to how thick your insulation should be - generally between 8” and 12”, depending on your location.
Install ceiling fans
Hot air rises, so by installing ceiling fans that spin clockwise, you can move hot air back down. And those fans could pay for themselves quickly. One study found that you might impact heating costs by up to 10%.
Caulk windows and doors
For many households, this is the biggest source of heat (and money) loss. For example, a 1/8-inch gap under a 36-inch-wide exterior door may let as much cold air into your home as a hole that has the diameter of a soda can.
Buy a programmable thermostat
A warm home to come home to after work isn’t just pleasant – it could save you money too. Instead of cranking the heat when you get home at 5 p.m., program your thermostat to kick on around 4:45 p.m. And don’t let the temperature drop below 60-65 degrees. According to Home Depot, going from 50 to 70 degrees means your furnace is working twice as hard.