Winter weather and frigid temperatures have come to the St. Louis Metro East area and with it comes an increase in heating costs. But staying warm and comfortable does not have to cost you an arm and a leg! Just follow these simple money saving tips to help get you through the long cold winter months.

1. Try layering your clothing.

The first and perhaps easiest step to staying warm this winter is layering your clothes. You may not need to set your thermostat has high if you can wear enough layers to help keep you comfortable.

2. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!

The heat from your furnace just loves to escape your home through poorly insulated walls and ceilings. Ensuring that your ceilings, walls, basement, attic, etc. are well insulated will not only save you money during the winter, but proper insulation will save you money on your heating and cooling bill all year long. Which means choosing high-quality insulation is a worthwhile investment for both your home and your wallet.

3.  Seal up your home.

Use caulk around your windows, especially if you have an older home/ older windows. Nothing wastes money during the winter months like drafty windows!

4. A little maintenance now can save you big later!

Your furnace is working twice as hard to keep up with the plummeting temperatures during the winter months. If your furnace isn’t operating at its optimal level, you’re basically burning money on heating costs. Contact us today to have your heating system inspected and tuned-up, for added peace of mind and savings this winter.

5. Block off unused rooms.

If there are rooms in your home that are not used often, you can save some money on your heating bill by closing off those rooms. Make sure that you close the heating vents and all doors. WARNING: don’t close off a room that contains plumbing, you don’t want to have to worry about frozen pipes.

6. Make your windows work for you!

During the day, open your blinds and curtains and let the sunlight naturally warm your home. Then at night, close those blinds and curtains, to help keep the warm air inside your home and keep drafts out.

 7. Cook more.

Using your oven will help you heat your kitchen (and home depending on your layout). So, put that oven to work by making a roast, meatloaf, casserole, etc. and after you’re done cooking dinner, bake a cake or some brownies to keep that oven running longer. After you’re done cooking/baking, TURN YOUR OVEN OFF and then leave the oven door cracked open to get the most heat out of your oven as possible. WARNING: you should never use your oven as the only method to heat your home and NEVER run your oven when you’re not cooking.

8. Turn on your ceiling fans.

Winter may seem like an odd time to run your ceiling fan, but they can distribute warm air through your home efficiently. If you set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise and run it on a low speed, it will help push the warm air back down. This is extremely helpful and cost effective since warm air rises.

Here are a few more helpful money saving heating tips for winter:

• Change your filter at least once a month, to help ensure that your furnace runs as efficiently as possible.
• Setting your programmable thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees when you’re not home, can save you up to 15% on your heating bill.
• To keep the warm air flowing freely, be sure to clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Remember to make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to perform this task, contact a professional.
• Place towels, pipe insulation or some other form of thick material at the bottom of your exterior doors. This will help prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from pouring in.
• Have an Electrician install foam installation behind your electrical plate covers and outlets.
• A new and more energy efficient furnace will provide you with major long term savings on your heating bill each winter.

Stay safe and warm this winter!

If you have any plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical needs, simply call us at:

(618) 765-8218

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