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Saving Money on Heating Costs

March 16, 2012

ThermostatIf we have been using the oven during the winter or cooler months, we leave the oven door open after baking. The heat is turned off of course but my goodness, all the heat you can "recycle" by simply leaving the oven door open for a few minutes.

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I refer to it as "recycled heat" because we've just paid for it to cook/bake with and now we can use it for additional warmth to the kitchen area. You don't want to do this during the summer or hotter months because it will make your kitchen even hotter. However, during the cold winter months, it sure feels good to feel it rolling out of the oven.

By Marsha Fleenor from Greenville, NC

 
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November 4, 2014

What do you need in winter? Heat and humidification. Disconnect the dryer vent in the winter and let the heat and moisture stay inside. Smells nice too.

 
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March 22, 2011

I seldom turn up my house heat yet the cost is my biggest expense; how can I reduce it? (I've done all the obvious.)

By Kay from Babylon, NY

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 186 Feedbacks
March 22, 20110 found this helpful

You might have to keep it turned down and wear more clothing. For me a high heat bill would be worth it in order to be comfortable, I don't like the feel of wearing several layers of clothing, I always feel like they are confining my movements.

 

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March 22, 20110 found this helpful

Do you cover the windows with plastic in the fall? Also hanging blankets or polar fleece over the windows will help, the only thing is it will also keep light out and you won't be able to see out very easily.

 
March 23, 20110 found this helpful

Check with local govt to see if there is a program that will come out and do an "Energy Audit" and/or "Weatherization Program" to find and eliminate hidden heat lossers. Sometimes it's even free.

 

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March 23, 20110 found this helpful

Since you're a Long Islander, like me, go to the LIPA (the electric company here) website; they have a lot of tips, some of which you might not have thought of, and offer home energy audits. They also have links to programs that give grants for upgrading & replacing insulation, heating systems, etc. These usually go through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research & Development Authority), and you might qualify for these programs. Their website also has helpful advice. The links are:

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www.lipower.org and www.nyserda.org

 
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March 12, 2010

To save on heating costs, we close off the rooms that we're not using during the daytime by cutting off the heating system in those rooms and closing the doors. Before bedtime, we open the doors or turn the heat back on. This saves us quite a bit on electric bill.

 
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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 255 Posts
March 4, 2010

To save on your heating and cooling costs, keep your closet doors closed (same for dresser drawers, cabinet doors and such). Why pay to heat spaces you are not living in?

 
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February 8, 2010

I believe everyone these days are complaining about the high electrics bills we are receiving. The company which supplies my electricity keeps going up several times a year.

 
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October 1, 2009

I was wondering if anyone could tell me approximately how much money they've saved on heating bills by putting plastic in the windows to keep drafts out? I know this will depend on a lot of things, but I'm just trying to see if this is worth doing.

I'm on the 2nd floor of a two family house built in the early 1930s. I suspect the windows are the originals. I have a gas furnace that is probably at least 10 years old. I live in Upstate New York where it is pretty much cold and snowy from November through April.

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By susan from Syracuse, NY

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October 1, 20090 found this helpful

I don't know how much money you will actually save, but the plastic kits are cheap and easy to install. The plastic keeps the air out and makes the room feel a lot warmer. I do it every winter.

 

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October 1, 20090 found this helpful

We've also done just a thick plastic you buy in rolls at Home Depot. They cost a few dollars per window and it is definitely worth it in the added comfort. We have a few old windows we are not ready to replace yet, so we cover them and it makes a huge difference.

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Not sure on actual dollar savings, but I'm sure it's enough to cover your time to do it.

 

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October 1, 20090 found this helpful

If you go to WalMart you can get clear plastic on the bolt priced per yard starting under $1.00 and a little over depending on the thickness.

If your windows are drafty; chances are you are losing heat and putting plastic up saves $$ yes I do believe it is worth the small expense for the winter months when compared to the cost of heating bills for the cold season.

My husband made a wooden frame and put WalMart's higher quality plastic on it and we use the same plastic & frame each winter to cover the sliding glass door.

 
October 1, 20090 found this helpful

Buy carpet 'tack strips' to seal the plastic to the outer window frames if they are wood. They are easy to remove in the spring and can be used repeatedly.

 
October 1, 20090 found this helpful

I can tell you that the plastic will help--I can't tell you how much.

However, consider using something like either the Warm Windows product line from a fabric store, or purchasing radiant barrier material from a hardware store (or you can order it online from Farmtek) and improvising curtains. If you just use them at night, it will help hold heat inside like crazy. The radiant barrier looks like bubble wrap with tinfoil on it, kind of, and you can cover it with fabric and just roll it up in the morning.

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Good luck!

 
October 2, 20090 found this helpful

Anything that keeps the drafts out will be keep money in your pocket.

For years before we replaced our old windows, we installed the window kits every fall. Almost the instant we finished the window kit installation, the house was not only warmer, but maintained the heat very well through out the entire day.

There was a home renovation show I saw that demonstrated the heat loss in a home with drafty windows. For 6 windows that leaked out the heat, it was the equivalent of having a hole in the
wall 2' X 2' - The window kits are well worth the few dollars they cost. If done properly, it will take you a couple of hours to do the entire house. Make sure you have a blow dryer/hair dryer, as it is crucial to the proper installation. Good Luck & stay warm.

 
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January 9, 2009

Advice for saving money on heating costs from the ThriftyFun community. If you have a wood burning stove, this helps run that during the day throughout your home and shut off the oil heat and only use the oil heat at night when you are sleeping.

A furnace for a home.

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November 24, 2008

To save on heating fuel in the winter, insert the drain plug in the tub when showering and leave it in afterward until the water is cool. It adds warmth as well as humidity to your home. It's such an easy thing to do!

 
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December 7, 2007

Tips and advice to heat your home for less this winter as suggested from the ThriftyFun community. To help heat our home, we winterize by covering all the windows with the plastic made especially for them.

Thermostat

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January 23, 2007

Last year I did an experiment. Would heating with an electric room heater in each room be more expensive than heating with my gas furnace? I found out the electric heaters are much more expensive than turning up my thermostat on my gas heater.

 
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