Help For Your Heating Bill

Make sure your home is insulated adequately. Increase insulation if needed, particularly in the attic. Not only is the attic usually the easiest place to insulate, but it's where you will see the greatest benefit of energy savings.

Consider replacing your baseboard heaters. You may save money and energy by updating worn or low functioning baseboard units with newer fan models that mount in the wall. The fans distribute the warm air for better circulation in each room. Forced-air heating systems are a popular type of central heating. Some older models only utilized 50 percent of the fuel they burned. Newer models take advantage of up to 90 percent of their fuel.

Humidity levels in your home play a roll as well. For comfort in winter, your home's relative humidity levels should range from 30 to 50 percent. If the air becomes too humid, windows drip with condensation. Conversely, if they drop below this, the air becomes very dry and you'll need higher temperatures to feel warm.

Up here in the Northwest, we want to stay warm and comfortable in the winter without spending a fortune on heat. With that in mind, let's look at a few ways you can achieve a more comfortable indoor environment while reducing energy costs.

Did you know that over a 24-hour period, you can save about three percent of your energy costs for every degree you lower the thermostat's set temperature in the winter?

Replace your thermostat with a programmable electronic model. A programmable thermostat can automatically adjust room temperature settings to energy-saving levels when you're sleeping or away from the house, eliminating waste of energy.

Take advantage of the sun. Allow radiant energy from sunlight to augment your home's heat simply by opening drapes and blinds on sunny days.

Seal cold air paths in your house. Caulk any cracks or openings in the siding. Install weather stripping around windows and doors. Install or repair storm windows and storm doors. These improvements will help prevent your home's expensively- heated air from escaping.

Install ceiling fans, particularly in rooms with high ceilings. Warm air rises and is trapped near the ceiling. If you run a ceiling fan in reverse direction, it will circulate warm air back down to living areas.