back to blog

5 Simple and Cheap Ways to Save Money on Your Heating Bill

We’ve all heard the phrase, “You have to spend money to make money,” right?  Well, it also seems like we could say, “You have to spend money to save money.”  That seems to be particularly true when talking about cutting down on energy costs.  We hear about buying more efficient heating and cooling systems, investing in programmable thermostats, and adding insulation.  What if you want to save money, but you are not able to spend a lot of money?  Here are 5 simple and cheap ways to save money on your heating bill this fall:

Make sure your furnace filter is clean

Picture your furnace filter like a freeway.  During rush hour, when there is a traffic jam, is it easy to get through? No, it’s not.  A dirty filter is like a freeway during rush hour.  When it is clogged, it is much harder for the furnace to push the newly warmed air through, which means the furnace has to work extra hard to make sure that your home gets heated the way you like.  A furnace that works extra hard ends up costing extra much.  Depending on your filter it may need to be cleaned or replaced regularly to keep it clear.

Turn your ceiling fan on at a slow speed, this will push warm air down

According to Consumer’s Energy, “Ceiling fans set at a slow speed push warm air away from the ceiling and move it around the room.”  Just because the warm days of summer are coming to an end doesn’t mean that your ceiling fan can no longer help you out.

Make sure all leaks around windows and doors are sealed

Older homes tend to have more leaks than newer ones.  If you find that your home seems drafty, you can solve the problem with weather stripping.  If you are looking for something simpler and quick, you can DIY a draft blocker.  These crafts are even fun to do with your kids.  A draft blocker will help to cut down on some leakage, but weather-stripping will do a more thorough job.

Turn your water heater down

As TODAY points out, “It’s…not likely to be noticeable if you turn down the thermostat on your water heater to, say, 120 degrees from about 140 degrees.”  Most likely your hot water heater is set at a temperature higher than necessary.  Turn down the hot water heater so it doesn’t waste energy heating water up to a degree that you never use.

Play with your thermostat

No, your thermostat doesn’t have games or movies on it…(yet).  But, in order to save money, play around with the settings.  The US Department of Energy suggests, “When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills.”  Programmable thermostats, or learning thermostats like Nest, can make this even easier, but it can definitely be done manually.  Even if you don’t want to make a drastic 10-15 degree change at night, even adjusting the thermostat slightly can help out your bills.

For more information about saving money this fall, contact FLAME!

Contact flame Same Day Guarantee

Sidebar

Save On Your Next Service

$175

Main Sewer Line Clearing and Camera Inspection Expires 04/14/2024

Early Bird Special

$750 off an A/C Unit Expires 04/14/2024

$3700 OFF

High Efficiency Heating & A/C System + Finance as low as $75/month Expires 04/14/2024
HA_logo
Heartland Academy
Learn More

contact us
same day guarantee

Same Day Guarantee

Why Choose Flame Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical?

Expect Trustworthy Service & Excellent Craftsmanship

  • Same-day services
  • Licensed & insured
  • Free estimates on replacement quotes
  • Upfront & fair pricing
  • Background checked technicians
  • Financing options
  • Military, veteran & senior discounts
  • Responsiveness & respect for the customer's time
  • Expertise in our field