{"id":12230,"date":"2022-11-11T06:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T12:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/?p=12230"},"modified":"2022-11-08T09:05:11","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T15:05:11","slug":"how-to-cut-home-heating-costs-this-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/how-to-cut-home-heating-costs-this-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cut Home Heating Costs This Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Consumer Reports<\/a> | By Janet Siroto | November 3, 2022 | Home Heating | Home Insurance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These smart moves will keep your house toasty without blowing your home heating budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the typical American household, utility bills are about $2,000 a year, according to the most recent Department of Energy figures<\/a>. Heating an average home accounts for about $900 of that. So you want to keep the warm air you pay for inside instead of flying out through drafty windows, wonky doors that don\u2019t fit their frames, and under-insulated attics and basements. Weatherizing your home<\/a> is job No. 1 and may whittle down heating and cooling costs by 20 percent annually (or about $220), the DOE says. Keeping your heat and hot water systems<\/a> running smoothly and taking advantage of available rebates and tax credits may save you even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule a Checkup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Professional servicing of your heating system (typically $150 to $500 for an entire heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system) will include everything from replacing dirty filters to checking for safety issues like potential carbon monoxide leaks. A heating system that\u2019s running efficiently may save you money. For instance, the DOE<\/a> says a well-maintained heat pump<\/a> can use up to 25 percent less fuel than a neglected one. \u201cIdeally, have this done in what\u2019s known as the swing season, before the real cold kicks in,\u201d says Larry Zarker, CEO of the Building Performance Institute, a nonprofit credentialing and standards-setting organization for the industry. Also check air filters<\/a> from time to time for dust and dirt, and change them if they\u2019re dirty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decide Whether to Have an Energy Audit on Your Home Heating System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Think you\u2019d benefit from details on your home\u2019s energy performance? A trained energy assessor can evaluate it for issues like insufficient insulation or a heating system that might warrant replacement\u2014and help develop a plan to improve efficiency and lower your energy bills. This can cost $210 to $670 but may uncover ways to lower your monthly energy bills by up to 30 percent, according to the DOE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Home Performance with Energy Star program<\/a>, a collaboration between the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency, matches consumers in 20 states with reputable home performance contractors for assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other options that you might want to consider include the Home Energy Score program<\/a>, an auditor registered with the Residential Energy Services Network<\/a>, and a local certified inspector from the Building Performance Institute<\/a>, which sets standards for energy audits and certifies analysts. Utilities may offer free audits, but they\u2019re not always thorough, Zarker says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insulate Your Hot-Water System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Slipping foam \u201csleeves\u201d (about $11 each) around water pipes in or near exterior walls may save up to $80 per year and reduce the risk of pipes freezing if temperatures dip below zero. Wrap a heat jacket (about $30 to $45) around your hot-water heater<\/a> (if your utility company allows it) and it won\u2019t have to work as hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleuth Out Leaky Doors, Windows, and More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Click here for the full story…<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visit other great articles featured by Shield Insurance Agency<\/h2>\n\n\n