Things You'll Need:
- plastic for windows
- programmable thermostat
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Step 1
Make sure your furnace is running as efficiently as possible. A regular check up with a licensed professional is recommended at the start of each heating season. A furnace that is not running at its highest efficiency can cost you a lot on your utility bill. Make sure your furnace has an efficiency rating of 80% or higher. Typically it will cost less to upgrade an old furnace (20 years or older is considered old) than it is to run it and maintain it. One thing homeowners can do at home is to make sure to change your air filter at least every other month, with once a month being preferred.
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Step 2
Have a programmable thermostat installed. This will allow you to turn down the stat at times when no one is home or when you are sleeping. Also adjust the temperature 4-8 degrees lower than you normally keep it.
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Step 3
Add plastic to any drafty window and add heavy drapes over top. I know this is not the most ideal way to decorate but the plastic helps keep the cold air from blowing in and the heavy drapes act like extra insulation. The cheapest way to find which windows are drafty is to light an incense stick and carefully hold it near a window (being careful to avoid window coverings) you will see the smoke travel sideways toward the leak instead of upwards
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Step 4
Lower the setting on your hot water heater. Most hot water tanks are set to 180 degrees. This is typically hotter than most people care for. So you end up paying more to keep the hot water hotter than you need. Every degree you set the stat lower you can expect to save 3-5%. Keep in mind that tank temperature should be no lower than 130 degrees to prevent bacterial growth.
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Step 5
Look at your duct work. Check in the attic,basement or crawl space under your house. If you see any cracks, holes or separated ductwork you should call a professional heating and cooling contractor immediately. Ductwork should be completely sealed to prevent any air venting into the space and thus wasting your money to heat or cool the attic, crawl space or basement.
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Step 6
Consider adding more insulation to your attic. To find out if you could benefit from adding attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is less than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or 6 inches of cellulose), you could benefit by adding more. According to Simply Insulate the average house in the Detroit area should have between R38-R60 in the attic.
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Step 7
Upgrade to Energy Star products. Energy Star appliances and windows will save you money but did you know there are also Energy Star exterior doors? An Energy Star door has built -in weather stripping and it offers five times the insulating value of a solid wood door. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (or CFL's) last up to 10 times longer than the standard light bulb and that is a savings of up to $30 per bulb over the life of the bulb. Energy Star recommends to get the most savings, you should switch bulbs in any fixture that is in use for more than 15 minutes a day. CFL's even come in dimmer and three way bulbs now.
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Step 8
Check the condition of exterior caulk. Making sure cracks and gaps are properly caulked will help save money on your utility bill as well. Just make sure to read the label as most caulks need the outside air temperature to be above 50 degrees. Where to caulk? Around windows, doors, pipes, dryer vent, and electrical wiring. Also anywhere two surfaces meet such as bricks, chimney or trim meet the siding.
Comments
goldiec said
on 7/16/2009 Thanks for the great tips on lowering your utility bills. 5*
sonni57 said
on 3/28/2009 Well done article on how to lower utility bills.