

This will curb drafts and keep windows from rattling. If you can’t afford storm windows, put plastic film on those windows where a clear view isn’t crucial. Apply weather stripping to movable joints. Use door sweeps for exterior doors, and caulk or tacky rope caulk to block around window frames. Plugging the small gaps surrounding windows and doors can save you up to 10% on your heating bill. Drapes save energy effectively only if they fit tightly against the window and the floor.

An insulated drape can reduce it by half. A drape can reduce heat lost through a window by 1-third. Opening curtains and shades on south-facing windows during the day allows solar radiation to warm a living space closing all curtains at night helps retain that heat. A water heater blanket can save 5-10% of the energy it consumes. Covering your water heater with an insulated “jacket” ($17-$20) will keep costs down, especially if your heater is in an unheated place like a garage. Lowering the temperature of a water heater to 115-120 degrees reduces power use without a noticeable difference. For every 10☏ you lower the water temperature, you can save 3-5% of your water heating energy. Hot water heaters have adjustable thermostats. The water heater is the second-largest energy user in most homes. Also, in other rooms, make sure vents are not blocked by rugs and furniture

Shut the doors of seldom-used rooms and close their vents. Close off seldom-used rooms and shut the vents inside.Also, limit use of the fireplace, since fires actually suck heat from a room. Heat rises, and an open damper is like a hole in the roof. Turn them off as soon as they’ve done their job. In just 1 hour, a hard-working bathroom or kitchen fan can expel a houseful of warm air. Recommended winter setting: 68° in the daytime, 55° at night. Turn down the thermostat 10 degrees when you go to work, and again when you go to bed. You can save 3-5% on your heating bill for every degree that you set back your thermostat. Ten Inexpensive Ways To Reduce Your Winter Heating Bill
