Reduce Utility Bills

There are a few easy ways to reduce heating costs.

One simple way to reduce heating costs is to close off areas that don’t need to be heated. There is no reason to heat rooms that are used occasionally through the day (bathrooms) and or only for company. To reduce utility bills, avoid heating space in cabinets and closets.

1. Close the doors to the following areas:
   • Closets
   • Cabinets
   • Drawers
2. Keeping shower curtains or shower doors shut will reduce the heat lost in that area. Open the curtain or door about an hour before use to keep from being too chilled while showering or bathing.
3. Partially closing the heating vents will reduce utility bills. For vents that don’t adjust, use a large magnetic cover that easily comes on and off as needed. Partially or completely cover the vent. Covers that are specially made for this use are made for use in manufactured homes. Magnetic sheets can also be purchased from craft stores and cut to size. For bathrooms (before showering or bathing) and other rooms that are used occasionally, open vents about an hour before use and open the door to bring it to a comfortable temperature.
4. Adjust heating vents or partially cover them in rooms that are several degrees warmer than other rooms will help disperse the heat more evenly through the house and help to reduce heating bills.
5. Turn the heat down when not home, but not off. The furnace will have to run harder and longer to bring it to a comfortable temperature the colder the temperature is in the house. Ten degrees cooler than the temperature normally kept is a good place to start.

A few low cost or no cost changes can add up when working to reduce utility bills.