- 1). Get your furnace professionally serviced before the start of the winter so that it is operating at peak efficiency once the cold weather arrives. This also ensures that it is operating safely.
- 2). Check the insulation in your attic; it is a major barrier between the cold and you. Replace old, worn insulation or add insulation if you don't have enough. This makes it easier and cheaper to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
- 3). Install storm windows if you don't have double-paned windows. Check windows and doors for air leaks that let in cold air. Seal cracks around windows and install weatherstripping around doors to keep the cold drafts from coming into your home.
- 4). Replace your furnace filter every three months. A clean air filter helps your heating system to operate more efficiently, keeping your home warmer and your heating bill lower. You can buy furnace filters at a hardware or home improvement store. Unless you or someone in your home has allergies, you don't need the more-expensive allergen-removal filters.
- 5). Keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees in the winter. This is a comfortable temperature for your home and also low enough to save money. If you have a programmable thermostat, program it to lower the temperature while you sleep or are out of the house, such as while you are at work, and then to warm the house up again before you get up or get home from work.
- 6). Wear an extra layer of clothes, such as socks and sweaters, and curl up with an afghan while you are sitting on the couch. That allows you to lower your thermostat a few degrees without being uncomfortable.
SHARE
