Although winters in South Carolina can be relatively mild, heating costs still add up and it's not too late to lower your heating bills. Here are some simple things you can do to lower them:
- Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees and even lower when no one is home and while you sleep. Each degree you turn the heat down saves money. Add additional blankets to your beds to stay warmer and layer your clothing when you're awake to retain body heat.
- Keep the furnace filters clean. When dust builds on the filters, it slows the passage of air through your blower and creates more stress for your furnace. Dirty filters also reduce the life of your furnace and reduce your indoor air quality.
- Don't inadvertently block your heating vents, especially if they sit on the floor.
- Run your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans as little as possible. Although the fans are small, they exhaust your heated air quickly.
- Take advantage of sunny days by opening your blinds or curtains to let the sunshine in, which creates passive solar heating. Close them after the sun goes down, to keep heat inside.
- Consider upgrading your windows by installing thermal or Energy Star certified window products. If that's not a possibility, get clear plastic window insulating kits from a home improvement store. Leaky or single-pane windows can drive up heating costs substantially.
- Choose a breezy day to check your windows for air tightness. Walk around the inside of your home and hold a lighted stick of incense next to the windows. If the smoke wavers, you have a leak. Use exterior caulk to seal the leaks from outside. If the weatherstripping along your doors is worn, remove it and replace it with new tape.
- Add insulation to your attic. Most of the time this is an easy project to do for homeowners, even with limited do-it-yourself experience.
- Have your furnace inspected annually. A service check and cleaning improves its efficiency, lowering your heating costs.
- Inspect your ducts. Leaks or loose joints can add substantial cost to heating and cooling your home.
