Curb Your Heating Costs in a Few Simple Steps

When it comes to your household expenses, one of the largest cost centers during the fall and winter months are definitely your heating bills. The good news though is that there is a lot that you can do to keep those costs down.

These steps are easy to do and are very effective in reducing your bills.

Close the Chimney Flue

While there is no denying the warmth you get when you are gathered around the hearth, that chimney is a major portal for hot air to escape during the fall and winter months. Keep the hot air inside your home by making sure that the chimney flue is closed tightly when it’s not in use.

Over time it can warp, so double check that it still closes snugly.

Use the Sunshine

If you are chilly, instead of turning up the thermostat, just open the curtains and let the sunshine in your windows during the day. This can effectively increase your room temp a couple of degrees without your furnace having to do a thing.

Call for a Tune-Up

Make sure that your furnace is running in tip-top shape by having it tuned up. This will help identify and fix any problems that may have appeared over the summer. You’ll get your system and its components inspected and cleaned, which will make them work more efficiently (which will save you money, of course).

The Windows

Caulk any broken seals around windows (and doors too for that matter).

For an additional layer of protection against heat escaping, consider having a film applied to your windows. It’s a great energy efficiency tool. It will let the light in, but prevent hot air escaping. This makes them extremely air tight. For an extra barrier, hang insulated drapes or blinds.

Level the Doorways

It’s common for a gap to grow between an exterior door and the threshold over time. Seal that gap up by applying an adjustable threshold strip. It’s easy to do and is very effective at trapping hot air before it escapes out of the house.

Keep the Air Moving

Just because it’s cold outside, don’t turn your ceiling fan off or put your desk fans away. Just like fans are an effective way to keep cool during the summer, so are they an effective tool to keep hot air moving about during the cooler months.

It makes your home more evenly heated, which means that your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard.

Our trained staff has a wealth of handy tips and tricks that can make your life as a homeowner in St. Michael, MN easier and save you money too. Call B & D Plumbing, Heating & A/C today at (763)-497-2290.