The cost of heating a home in Vancouver will be a lot higher this winter due to soaring inflation and sharp increases in the cost of fuel. The price of natural gas has risen by almost a third in the last 12 months, and homeowners who rely on propane or heating oil for warmth can expect to pay at least 10% more to heat their homes this year than they did last winter. So, what can you do to keep warm during the winter months without breaking the bank? Here are a few suggestions from us here at Vanport Mechanical and Fire Sprinkler Inc.
Check the Attic
If you want to save money on heating bills, the first thing you should do is go up to your attic and take a look around. Heat rises inside a home, so most of the warmth you are paying so much for escapes through the roof. To stop this from happening, look around your attic for patches where insulation has shifted and gaps around ducts and pipes. Just make sure that you wear gloves when you do this because the tiny fibers in attic insulation can irritate your skin and eyes.
Adjust Your Thermostats
According to the Department of Energy, lowering thermostats by between seven and 10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours each day can lower winter heating bills by as much as 10%. Turning down the heat each night before you go to sleep is the easiest way to do this. If you would like to save money each month without adding yet another chore to your daily routine, you can replace your old thermostat with a programmable model that will take care of this nightly adjustment for you automatically. Other steps that you can take to lower your winter heating bills include:
- Using weatherstripping to seal gaps around doors
- Installing plastic window film
- Sealing electrical outlets with foam gaskets
- Moving furniture away from vents to improve airflow
- Placing metal or foil sheets behind radiators to redirect heat into the room
Get Your Heating System Serviced
If your heating system is more than a few years old, it could probably be serviced. Preventative maintenance is always a good idea, and it makes even more sense when the equipment being serviced burns fuel that has shot up in price. Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinkler Inc. has been helping Clark County homeowners to reduce their winter heating bills since 1975, and we would love to add you to our long list of happy customers.
Tips to Lower Your Winter Heating Bill in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
Serving The Greater Vancouver WA and Portland OR Areas
