Winter Heating

• Have your furnace inspected regularly by a qualified professional for both safety and energy efficiency. 
• Follow the maintenance guidelines in the operating manual.  Start the heating season with a clean furnace filter and inspect each month.  Clean or replace the filter as necessary. 
• Clean the vents regularly.  Make sure that drapes or furniture do not block vents or return air ducts.
• Only heat the rooms you need - seal off unused rooms by closing vents and keeping the doors tightly shut.
• If your furnace has a built-in humidifier, use it.  Dry air feels cooler at the same temperature as humid air.
• Checking your house for air leaks and adding insulation can be a great investment.  Common sources of air leaks include cracks around doors and along baseboards; cracks in brick, siding or foundation.  Plug air leaks with caulk or weather-stripping.  Adequate insulation in your attic, walls, floors, and unfinished basements or crawlspaces can have a huge impact on your heating bill.
• Turn ceiling fans to counter clockwise so the warm air is pushed down. 
• Consider replacing old windows with new high efficiency windows.
• Open draperies on sunny days to allow sunlight to help heat the home.  Close them at night to prevent heat from escaping.
• Plant shrubs, bushes and vines next to your home to create dead air spaces that help insulate the exterior wall.  Make sure to have one foot of space between the wall and the fully mature plant.