How To Reduce Your Home Heating Costs

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Saving the planet and saving money go hand-in-hand when you reduce your home heating bill.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A furnace tune-up
A programmable thermostat
Heavy curtains or quilt blinds
A boiler blanket
Weather stripping
Caulk
Sweaters
An energy audit
Storm doors and windows

Step 1: Get your furnace tuned up

Get your furnace tuned up before winter sets in. Doing this annually will keep your furnace running efficiently.

Step 2: Install a programmable thermostat

Install a programmable thermostat so you can lower the heat when no one is home and at night while everyone is sleeping.

Tip: Lowering the heat to 72 degrees and putting on a sweater is a carbon-free, money-saving way to stay cozy.

Step 3: Use curtains to regulate heat

Close curtains and quilted blinds at night to help keep heat from escaping through windows. Open them during the day to let in the sun's warmth.

Step 4: Cover your heating system

Use a boiler blanket and pipe insulation to keep heat inside the heating system where it belongs. Before using a blanket, consult your owner's manual—make sure the blanket you plan to use is safe for your boiler.

Tip: Ask your gas or electric company if they do free energy audits, in which they appraise each room for its energy efficiency and make cost-cutting recommendations.

Step 5: Look into utility company rebates

Look into your utility company's efficiency programs. Many will pay for programmable thermostats and some even subsidize roof insulation.

Step 6: Seal cracks

Hold a piece of toilet paper near windows and door frames to check for drafts. Sealing cracks with weather stripping can save big bucks.

Tip: If you improve your home's energy efficiency by replacing an old boiler, furnace, or water heater, or by investing in storm windows and doors, you're entitled to an energy tax credit.

Step 7: Fill outdoor cracks

Review the outside of your home for cracks that are draining heat and caulk them.

Step 8: Clean radiators

Keep baseboard heaters and radiators clean and make sure your furniture and curtains are not blocking the vents.

Step 9: Centralize your winter life

Since pioneer times many a family has found warmth by gathering around a stove in winter. If you live in a big house, try sealing off little used rooms and/or an entire wing when the snow flies.

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[theuetubeguy]

00:52 sec "way" - spelt -> "wat" lol

[ironclad452]

killing animals at 68? are you joking?

most animals have fur for one thing ... and 68 is plenty warm enough, honestly ... normally, our home isn't above 69 .. and that's just in the morning to get the chill out of the air.

to each his own, really. but 68 isn't gonna kill anybody, dude ... lol

[TheBrownSys]

@Legofan4ever88

lol most pets (dogs, cats) would probably be more comfortable around 60 degrees. They have fur. Many are quite capable of surviving outdoors year round in harsh winter climates.

You keep it at 75? My house will average between 60-65 all winter.

I'm quite comfortable, healthy, and have more money in my pocket.

[AtibbsSPARTAN]

Lowing the heat to 72....haha it never goes above 63 in my house

[FakeApology]

#LOL at the little girl licking the chapstick off her lips at 2:29

[simsimcrazy47]

You'll need: ...boiler blanket, weather stripping, and cock.

[Spbeyond]

@Legofan4ever88 Killing animals at 68? Are you kidding me! I keep my place at 65 with 2 dogs, a cat and a tank full of salt water fish. lol you ever see a dog outside during the winter? LOL

[KHMadMan]

0:50 you spelled "way" wrong...

[magicyte]

Well, how about fuck the utility companies and put a wood stove in your house. then after that...go chop some wood from deadfall which is totally legal. there you go...free heat....aside from the gas in your car that you used to get to the trees.

[jobeanie123]

Wow awsome, i pretty much always have the heat at 68, just wear warm clothes, at night i put it at 65, yet i an entitles to put it to 60 degrees, because we use lots of blankets. we only go through 1 tank (or less) of fuel a wintere =)

i like the curtain idea, i always do it, and put blankets over some. also, iturn cieling fans to go clockwise, and i close doors like you said . awsome video 5/5

[SickWids]

Furnance tune up, when i heard i was like Yeah ill add an turbo charger to my furnance. But then i saw that it wasnt so exciting :(

[TheReapersSon]

WAT