Six Ways to Reduce Your Heating Bill this Winter

Let the sun in

An easy way to heat up your home free-of-charge is by opening your blinds and curtains on sunny days so that the sun’s warmth can come in. If you’re home during the day, you can even sit in the sun and skip bumping up the thermostat a couple degrees.

Stay bundled up

This seems like a no-brainer but sweaters, sweatpants, thick socks or slippers, and cozy blankets are sure to make the cold more bearable. You can also add area rugs to help insulate tile or wood floors.

Adjust your programmable thermostat

By now, almost everyone uses a programmable thermostat, many consumers are even upgrading to a WiFi thermostat to monitor their furnace from a smart phone. If you don’t have one, getting one should be number one on your list of money saving ideas. Give us a call (269)345-1843, we have a variety of programmable and WiFi thermostats available. Consumers Energy and many other utility companies offer their customers a rebate of up to a $100 to upgrade to a programmable or WiFi. Regardless of what type of thermostat you have, a great way to cut down on heating costs is to turn it down at night -5 to – 8 degrees cooler than what it’s set at while you’re awake.

Keep your furnace clean

Making sure your furnace is clean and your vents are unblocked will greatly reduce your energy usage. You should also make sure to check your furnace filter often and replace as recommended. To learn about JP Heating & Air Conditioning’s maintenance agreement, click here. It may even be time for an upgrade – to see why a Comfortmaker® furnace may be right for you, click here.

Adjust your ceiling fans

Ceiling fans are not just useful during the warm summer months. By having your ceiling fan go in the opposite direction, you’re actually pushing the warm air that rises back down into your home.

Insulate your windows and doors

Check your windows and doors for a draft of cold air coming in from outside and apply weather stripping and door sweeps as necessary. You can also use plastic or bubble wrap over your windows to keep the cold air at bay.