Winter heating costs are rising annually, so bundle up and turn your heat down: you may save some money and care about the Earth at the same time. Apply the following 6+5 tips and see a difference in your monthly heating expenses. These strategies may seem too simple, but they work well:

Free of charge strategies:

1. Turn down the thermostat 10 degrees lower for the time when you leave your home and also when you go to bed (approximately 16 hours a day). The result will be and 14% savings on your heating bill.
2. Use fans only when you need them. According to the Department of Energy in just 60 minutes a hard-working bathroom or kitchen fan can warm up air at your home. As soon as this job is done, turn them off.
3. Shut the fireplace damper. When heat is rising, an open damper lets this heat out. So keep it closed. Also, if you have the fireplace, limit its use because fires actually extract heat from a room. Close off the rooms that you do not use often.
4. Turn down the water heater. Lower the water temperature in it to 115-120 degrees. This will allow to reduce power usage without significant difference to the user.
5. Keep heating vents unobstructed. Vents blocked by rugs and furniture do not let heated air circulate effectively.
6. Use curtains. Open curtains or shades on windows that face South during the day. This allows solar radiation to warm your rooms; closing all curtains at night does not let that heat escape.

Low-cost fixes

If you don’t mind to invest some money into low-cost fixes to ensure savings on your heating bill later, use the following tips as well:

1. Wrap your water heater and pipes with insulated “coat”. Unless you possess an advanced water heater with already built-in insulation, wrapping your water heater with an insulated “coat” ($17-$20) will lower heating costs, especially if your heater is situated in an unheated place like an attic. Also, cover water pipes ($1-$5 per 5-foot section) especially when they run through areas that are not insulated.
2. Winterize your windows. Storm windows are the perfect option, but if you can’t afford them, lay plastic film on those windows where you do not need a clear view. This will stop drafts and keep windows from clattering.
3. Buy a low-flow shower head. An efficient shower head that does not let too much water out consequently uses 25% to 50% less hot water, lowering both your water and heating bills.

4. Buy a smart thermostat. A “smart” thermostat programs the time of changing the temperature at your home if you forget to do so yourself.
5. Keep your furnace in shape. A heating unit might stop working for a simple reason – because its air filter is clogged. Replace the air filter and your heating system will run more efficiently. By regular maintenance of your heating unit, you can save between 3% and 10% on heating bills.

At Norwalk – La Mirada Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning we offer professional evaluation of your heating expenses as well as install, replace and maintain different models of the heating units. Contact us today for more information.