1. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter. For each degree you raise your thermostat setting, your fuel bill climbs 3%. So dress accordingly.
2. Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. A simple task like this could improve your systems' energy efficiency by 10%.
3. Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
4. Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
5. Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
6. Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely; in just 1 hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air. Try to keep the humidity level between 30 – 60%.
7. Keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
8. Close an unoccupied room that is isolated from the rest of the house and turn down the thermostat or turn off the heating for that room/zone. However, do not turn the heating off if it adversely affects the rest of your system.
9. Consider installing double-pane windows with protective coating that reflects heat back into your home during winter. If such a retrofit is not in your budget, cover your windows with clear plastic film. At a typical cost of $4 - $6 per window, the film creates an insulating air pocket between the plastic and the window, reducing heat loss through windows by 25 – 50%.
10. Caulk and weather strip around exterior seams, cracks and openings. Pay extra attention around windows and at points where various exterior materials like wood, brick and vinyl siding meet. On the inside, caulking and weather-stripping around windows and door frames will cut down on drafts.
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