Prepare your Home for Winter and Freeze Out the Frost

Did you know? For every degree you set your thermostat back, you’ll save 3% on heating costs.

Some tips for saving on your energy costs and keeping your house warm and toasty this winter.

Start by looking under your doors. Place a rolled bath towel under a drafty door. Why? Decreasing drafts can reduce your energy use by 5 to 30 percent.

Change the ceiling fans. Warm air rises so reversing the direction of your ceiling fan will push the warm air downward. Pay attention to your furnace. Clean the furnace filter once a month during the heating season for increased airflow and consider switching to a permanent filter, which traps around 88 percent of debris.

How about some online FREE stuff? Some states offer energy-saver incentives, like free insulation upgrades and programmable thermostats. Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for potential deals.

Check around the house to make sure heating vents aren’t blocked. Rearrange furniture to keep the warm air flowing.

Look up in the attic. Make sure there is at least 12 inches of insulation lining your attic to keep heat from escaping through the roof.