Here's a statistic that should jolt you, if you don't know about it already: Canada's already high home heating bills are expected to rise by 50 per cent this winter.
Heating your home or apartment is not just something you want to do during the winter months, it's something you need to do to survive. With energy prices soaring all year, many folks are actually scared, because they find it hard to pay the heating bills every winter, and this year may be the worst in history.
I live in a small apartment which is heated with baseboard electric, and it's very expensive. I usually only heat two rooms, sometimes three. My monthly heating bill used to average $250 during the winter months, sometimes closer to $300. My apartment is not insulated that good or built correctly, because the floor gets very cold during the winter and feels like a refrigerator during the cold months, requiring me to wear socks or slippers most of the time.
Making a few alterations I managed to lower my winter heat bill to an average of $150 per month, which is a nice savings for me. If you follow the tips I am giving you here, you should also be able to lower your winter heat bill nicely, and save yourself some money.
Heat Bill Saving Tips - Winter Heating Tips For Saving Money:
- Lower The Thermostat. Lowering the thermostat is the easiest and one of the most cost effective ways of saving money. Try dropping it a few degrees, maintaining safe levels for good health.
- Don't Block The Heat. Don't block the floor registers, baseboards or radiators with rugs, furniture or other items. The warm air must be able to circulate around them for maximum efficiency.
- Seal The Gaps And Cracks. Walk around the outside of your home or apartment, and slowly examine the windows, doors, siding, water faucets and any other through-the-wall openings. Any such cracks or openings should be caulked and sealed. Cold air can easily get in, and warm air escape.
- Clean The Filters. If your furnace or heating system uses filters, make sure you clean or check them monthly. A dirty or clogged filter makes the heating system work harder and produce less heat, wasting your money.
- Reverse The Fans. If you have ceiling fans that have a reverse setting, turn them on low and on reverse when you're using a lot of heat. The warm air rises and often gets trapped near the ceiling area, the reverse air flow from the fan will help circulate the warm air around your whole room.
- Unleash The Beast. If your furnace seems to heat the whole basement, open the door going down to it, The heat accumilating near it will rise and can help heat the living areas.
- Heat From Cooking. If you do any winter baking in the oven, always leave the oven door openwhile it cools down, to allow the heat to help keep you warm while making sure any children and pets are not in harm's way.
- Close The Dampers. Warm air rises fast, so make sure when your chimney fire is completely out, that you close the damper, or else your letting warm air escape faster than a prisoner on the run.
- Cut The Branches. Trees protect us from wind and help shade us from the hot summer sun, but they can also cost us money. Inspect your trees in the cool months and cut off any branches that block the winter sun from getting into your windows. That winter sun is at a lower angle than it is in the summer, but it still helps warm a room when it shines in.
- Dress Unlike The Rest. If you sit around the house in shorts and a loose fitting shirt or blouse in the winter you will probably feel cold, and have the desire to turn up the thermostat. Dress for the season, and try wearing a sweater. Dressing warmer will make you feel warmer, so you can keep the thermostat turned down lower and save money.
Source: 10 tips to save on heating bills