| Heating costs continue to rise each year. The two | | | | window. If air is entering the home through the |
| significant factors of natural disasters and the war | | | | windows, the smoke will move toward the |
| in Iraq contribute to this inflation of home heating | | | | window. You can purchase window sealing |
| expenses related to electric, gas and oil furnaces | | | | packets from a home improvement store. |
| alike. There are steps you can take to lower the | | | | Caulking the windows is another option. |
| cost, alleviating your cash for other expenses or | | | | Buy a Ceiling Fan. This may come as a surprise, |
| simply for the next rise in heating costs. The tips | | | | but buying a ceiling fan is another way to reduce |
| below can help you lower your bills by conserving | | | | heating costs. Ceiling fans help push and keep the |
| energy when heating your home. | | | | warmer air down. Most models include reversible |
| Shut Curtains and Blinds. If it is sunny on a winter | | | | switches allowing the fans to be used in the |
| day, be sure to keep your curtains and blinds | | | | summer as well. The cost of the fan will, at some |
| open during the day to let the rays in to provide | | | | point, be made up with the money saved in |
| some warmth. However, when dusk and night | | | | heating costs. |
| hours approach, you should shut and curtains and | | | | Check Roof Top Insulation. Cold air may be |
| blinds. Of course, re-open them the next morning. | | | | coming into the house from the attic due to poor |
| Shut Doors. If you are not using a room, leave | | | | insulation. There should be enough air pockets in |
| the door closed especially if you are not using the | | | | the insulation to trap the cold air and push it away |
| room long-term. This will avoid the necessity to | | | | from the living areas. Old, insufficient insulation is |
| provide extra heat to that room, and also limit | | | | usually flat and brittle which indicates that it is time |
| the cold air from escaping into the other rooms. | | | | to replace the insulation. This will definitely help |
| When this happens, the furnace must work | | | | conserve energy. |
| harder to heat the house and increase heating | | | | Even the implementation of a few steps above |
| costs. | | | | will lead to better heating and a reduction in |
| Insulate and Caulk Windows. Check your windows | | | | heating costs. There are many additional ways to |
| to see if they are well sealed. If not, the windows | | | | conserve energy, and doing a little research online |
| will allow cold air from the outside to enter the | | | | or talking to your local energy provider may save |
| home, again making the furnace work harder to | | | | you even further in energy costs. This is time well |
| provide heat. A good way to test if your | | | | spent resulting in money saved and a warmer |
| windows are well sealed, is to turn of all fans as | | | | home environment. |
| well as the furnace, and produce smoke near the | | | | |