7 Easy Ways To Cut Your Home Heating Bill

It may be approaching the middle of winter, but it’s not too late to lower your energy bills and to keep your home comfortably warm. Below is a list of problem areas that, once resolved, may dramatically lower your heating bills in Richmond, VA.

1) Check And Replace Worn Weather Stripping

If you have torn and worn weather stripping around your doors and windows, your furnace is working harder than it needs to, and you’re losing money on your heating. This is a simple replacement job, merely pull off the old and tack on the new.

2) Check Your Door Threshold

If you notice daylight seeping in under your front door, then you can be sure your heated air is seeping out. Most thresholds can be adjusted to a height that will eliminate a gap. Be careful not to raise the threshold too much; if the door drags it may wear out the weather stripping.

3) Use A Portable Heater

Use a space heater in any room your family gathers on a regular basis and turn down the temperature on the furnace. The rest of the house may be cooler, but you’ll still be warm and you can save on your energy bill.

4) Cover Windows And Sliding Patio Doors With Plastic Film

You can find inexpensive transparent film to use on your windows and doors at home centers. The film is simple to put on, won’t hurt your trim, and virtually invisible if put on correctly.

5) Make Sure the Attic Access Door Is Insulated

Although your attic may be well-insulated, the access door may not be. Use adhesive to attach fiberglass batt insulation to the attic side of the door, this will help keep heated air from escaping through the attic.

6) Ductwork Leaks

Check your ductwork for places where it might have pulled apart at the corners and seams. Use metal tape or a mastic sealant to seal any leaks.

7) Check The Furnace And Gas Fireplace

In this case, you’ll need to pay for a service call but the long-term savings in heating is well worth it. A tune up will include an inspection, proactive maintenance, and identification of parts that need to be repaired or replaced. In addition, the Richmond, VA HVAC professional will check for gas or carbon monoxide leaks. Many warranties require this type of maintenance.