Heating tips

Here are some low- and no-cost ideas of things you can do to reduce the amount of energy it takes to heat your house. If you want to go beyond these tips, spend some time looking around the weatherization information page.

• Make sure heat vents and return air vents aren't covered.
• Change your fiber furnace filter twice a year and clean it monthly during the heating season. 
• Set the thermostat at a maximum of 68 degrees. 
• Set back the thermostat a maximum of 10 degrees at night, unless you have a heat pump or cable heat. Save up to three percent on heating costs for every degree your thermostat is lowered. Consider installing an automatic setback thermostat for your furnace. 
• If you have zonal heating (thermostats in each room) you can turn down the heat to 50 or 55 degrees and close doors. 
• If you suspect your thermostat is not accurate, place a thermometer nearby and see if they record the same number. 
• Don't use the oven to heat your kitchen. 
• Weatherstrip and caulk around all doors and windows. 
• Keep dampers closed when fireplace isn't in use. Unblocked, a good chimney can draw up to 20 percent of the warm air out of the house each hour. 
• In cold weather, keep drapes and shades open on sunny days and close them at night.
  

The cost of heating your home is usually the biggest energy cost in a household.