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October 05 |
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Act Now to Cut Off Home Heating Costs! |
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While you're feeling the pinch of spiraling gasoline prices now, you may
be in for a bigger shock when you get your home heating bill this
winter. Now, in early October, is a good time to try and head off those
wallet-busting heating bills! The U.S. Energy Information Administration has projected that retail heating oil prices will be at least 17 percent higher this winter than last year. Natural gas, used to heat more than half of U.S. households, and propane are expected to rise by a similar amount. These estimates are likely to be low, analysts now say, pointing out the added impact on energy costs caused by Hurricane Katrina. A good place to begin economizing is with your furnace. Furnaces should be checked and cleaned by a professional at least every two years. Oil furnaces should be cleaned by a qualified technician yearly. Having your furnace serviced by a reputable specialist before the start of each heating season could reduce your fuel bill as much as 10 percent. If the furnace is fired by oil or gas, make sure the furnace and flue outlets are cleaned, filters are cleaned or changed and the motor is in good working order. Check furnace filters every two months during the heating season. Reducing air infiltration and having adequate attic-space insulation are keys to lower fuel bills. How much you save depends on the size of your house. If you spend a couple hundred dollars in prevention, you can probably save 10 to 15 percent on your winter heating bill. If you project that out over a number of years, the savings become much larger! More Savings Tips: † Weather-strip doors and windows and use caulk around pipes. A couple tubes of caulk, which may cost $20, could save you several hundred dollars. Weather-stripping for doors and windows is readily available at most hardware and home improvement stores. Often, these items are available at sizes pre-cut to your door and windows. They are very easy to install and don't require special tools. † Adequate attic space insulation is important. In Missouri, 12 inches of insulation is recommended. If insulation is inadequate, warm air goes up through the ceiling. † Exposed air ducts in the attic also should be covered or wrapped with insulation. Warm air in ducts coming from the furnace cools before entering the house, making the furnace work harder. † Set the thermostat a degree or two lower. It's estimated that there is a three percent saving in heating fuel costs for each degree the thermostat is lowered. |
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Kris Jenkins jenkinsk@missouri.edu Regional Specialist Human Environmental Sciencs Last revised: 03/18/09 |