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Stay warm and keep heating bills reasonable

December 1, 2008

Now that the cold weather is here, many of us are looking for ways to save money when it comes to our heating bills.

Here are some tips to help you keep your home warmer for less:

 

·        If a playing card fits in the crack of an outside door or window, you need to caulk or weather strip around the door or window to stop air leaks. The same goes for exhaust fans and any other place where wires or pipes pass through walls.

 

·        Use draft guards at the bottom of outside doors, and close radiators in rooms you don’t use.

 

·        Lower your thermostat at night or when no one is home.

 

·        Turn off your water heater or set it to “pilot” when you’ll be away from home for a vacation or other long period of time.

 

·        Make your own storm windows by stretching thick plastic sheets as tightly as you can over the window.

 

·        Remove window air conditioners or cover them tightly on the inside with thick plastic or special air conditioner covers.

 

·        Keep your fireplace damper closed when there’s no fire. But, make sure to reopen the damper before you light a fire!

 

·        Keep your radiators and vents clear of furniture or curtains.

 

·        Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

 

·        Run your garbage disposal with cold water.

 

·        Cook several dishes in the oven at one time, and prepare double recipes that you can freeze for future use and reheat in the microwave.

 

·        Wash full loads of clothing only. Use warm or cold water for washing, and always use cold water to rinse clothing.

 

·        Clean your lint screen after drying each load of clothes.

 

Space heaters can also be a good way to lower your gas bills. If you’re going to be using one room, you can lower your thermostat and use the space heater to warm the room you are using.

However, it is very important to use extreme caution with space heaters. Make sure the space heater isn’t placed too close to curtains, furniture or anything else that can catch fire. Also make sure to keep pets and small children away from space heaters.

Make sure any space heaters that are fueled by natural gas are properly ventilated.

There are a variety of space heaters out there. Here’s an article from The Dollar Stretcher that can help you select a space heater that will work best for you.

Remember, if you are having difficulty paying your gas bills, you may qualify for help from LIHEAP (the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). You can apply for LIHEAP assistance online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by calling (866) 857-7095 or for the hearing impaired (800) 451-5886. You can also visit your local county assistance office for an application.

Written by admin · Filed Under Tips 

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