Your organi zed home
Easy ways to
slash your heating costs! Oil and gas prices have risen significantly since their pandemic lows, but you can stay warm without breaking the bank with these savvy tips
by ‘blanketing in’ air “Hot air rises, making your heating system work harder and your bill climb faster,” says Jack Miller of home improvement blog HowIGetRidOf.com. An easy fix? Clip blankets to curtain rings, then slide the rings onto tension rods placed between doors or hallways that lead upstairs. This keeps air from escaping up so it stays warm down below.
Supercharge your heater
Reduce hot water temps
with a quick vent dusting
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most households only need water heater thermostats to be set at 120°F to provide adequate hot water for dishes, laundry and bathing. But many manufacturers default them to 140°F. “Simply lowering it by a few degrees can slash up to 11% off your heating bill,” says Dallas HVAC expert Walter E. Bennett. “That’s up to $400 a year!”
Heating vents tend to attract dust, mini insulators that block your system from emitting heat. To clear them so your system runs efficiently, give radiators, baseboard units or forced-air vents a quick onceover with the vacuum hose when you’re doing the floors. Then wipe them down once a month with a scented dryer sheet—it keeps dust from settling and creates a fresh scent every time the heat kicks on!
by checking this setting
Spot drafts with incense Keep the thermostat low Even a small draft can raise the heating bill by 20%. To find it? “Light an incense stick, then walk around areas with common air leaks,” says Andre Kazimierski, CEO of Improovy.com. “If the smoke trail wavers, you’ve located the leak!” Just grab a bit of caulk or foam insulation to plug it instantly and start saving big.
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Woman’s World
by boosting humidity The surprising (and free!) key to making your house feel warmer without raising the thermostat temperature? “Add a little humidity,” says Joel Phillips, founder of HomeGuideCorner.com. Simply leave the bathroom door open when showering, keep the top off of pots when cooking and open the dishwasher after the wash cycle.
Twinkle; Alamy; Getty (3). Text: Lindsay Bosslett
Outsmart ‘rising’ heat
