How To Save Money On Heating And Energy

Homeowners are continually trying to find new ways to save money in a troubling economy. As the colder winter months draw nearer, an effective way of saving money and energy is to examine the performance of your home. Heating a home can be expensive, but taking the proper precautions to keep as much heat in as possible can lead to lower utility bills and a more efficient home. There are several key areas that you can focus on to better insulate your home for lower bills and higher efficiency. Read on to find out how to save money on your heating bill.

Thermostat Control:
Properly controlling your thermostat can help save a lot of money during the winter months. Running high heat in your home all day, every day can lead to high heating bills. Be aware of when your home is empty and needs the least heat. Many thermostats allow you to set times when less heat is required, such as when you are asleep or when you're at work. You can also close heat registers in rooms that are not used often, as long as the thermostat is not in that particular room. Proper thermostat control can lead to significant cost savings in the long run.

Identify Air Leaks:
When you know where the air is coming into your home, you can seal up these areas properly to make your home more energy efficient. Prevent heat from escaping by sealing air leaks using caulk, spray foam or weather stripping. These materials can be found at any hardware store. If you have a fireplace, closing the flue can save a great deal of heat from escaping, as 14 percent of leaked air from the home comes from the chimney.

Home Energy Audits:
While insulating your home, sealing leaks and controlling the thermostat may seem simple enough, sometimes the most difficult part can be knowing where to start. A home energy audit brings professionals into your home to identify problem areas using advanced technology, such as infrared thermal imaging. Home energy auditors are experts at identifying where your home is underperforming. They can walk with you through your home, showing you where your heat and air is escaping, and provide a detailed report with a concise picture of your home's energy performance. From there, the energy auditor will provide a list of prioritized money-saving recommendations for keeping heat inside your home.