Baby It's Cold Outside: 4 Ways To Keep Your Home Warm And Your Heating Bills Low

Winter weather means colder houses -- time to crank the heater up! Unfortunately, cranking the heater up means you're going to be spending more money on your heating bill. There are some things you can do to keep your heating bill lower during those cold winter months. Take a look at three simple steps you can take to stay warm and save money.

Seal the Outlets

If your heater is running but your house isn't heating up, you could have heat escaping from somewhere. The first place you should check is around the electrical outlets. Place your hand over the outlets. If you feel cool air coming through on your hand, you'll need to seal them. Outlet gaskets are available at most home improvement centers. They're small foam gaskets that fit right over the outlet. Simply remove the outlet cover, place the gasket over the electric receptacle, and replace the cover. For maximum benefits, place a gasket over each outlet in your home.

Fill the Gaps

Warm air can also escape from around your water pipes, especially if there are gaps in the walls around them. You can seal those gaps, and make your home more energy-efficient, by filling those gaps with spray foam insulation. If you're not familiar with this type of insulation, it comes in an aerosol can and expands once it's sprayed onto a surface. It dries to a hard shell to provide maximum insulation. Spray a generous amount around each water pipe that has a gap in the wall.

Get an Energy Audit

An energy audit is a great way to find out where your home stands regarding energy efficiency. During an energy audit, your home will be inspected for problem areas. This audit will help you address problems that may be undermining your home's energy efficiency.

Give Your Furnace a Tune Up

Your furnace works hard during the winter. The best way to help it work efficiently is to keep it in proper working order. If your home isn't getting as warm as it should, it may be time to give your furnace a tune-up. Have a heating specialist like SDA Armstrong Mechanical Services Ltd inspect your furnace for problems associated with the blower compartment, as well as with the electronic igniter. Problems with these items can cause your furnace to work harder than it has to.

You want to stay warm during the winter. The tips provided here will help you keep your home warmer and your heating bill lower.