The U.S. Energy Information Administration just released the short-term energy outlook for this winter, and projections for household heating costs are up by 10 percent. This likely is unwelcome news for most people, as it means that it will cost more this year to keep you and your loved ones warm. The bright side, though, is that there are several ways that you can lower your energy usage and your heating bills.

Here are some steps that you can take to lower your heating bills this winter:

• Lower your thermostat. Turning down your heat can save you 3 percent per degree that you lower it.  You’ll hardly notice if you lower your thermostat 10 degrees while your sleep or are at work, but you’ll definitely notice the savings on your heating bills.
• Turn off exhaust fans when you’re not using them. If you don’t, your heat and heating bill will go through the roof. Literally.
• Close your fireplace’s damper.  It’s just another escape hatch for your warm air.
• Open your curtains during the day.  South-facing windows allow warm sunlight in, and then closing your curtains at night will keep it in.  You also might consider using insulated drapes, which pull double duty, and keep heat in and drafts out.
• Don’t cover vents. Clean vents that are not blocked by window treatments, furniture or other objects keep your costly warm air circulating.
• Set your water heater lower approximately 10 degrees.  Turning down the temperature a little saves a lot of power.
• Insulate your water heater. If it’s warm to the touch, that means it needs insulation. You can purchase jacket or blanket insulation for most water-heater models.
• Keep cold air out. Door sweeps, caulk and weather stripping are inexpensive ways to keep the cold away.
• Change filters monthly. Changing filters regularly optimizes the performance of your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, and it minimizes costly repairs.
• Keep ducts airtight. Having your HVAC system checked yearly is well worth the cost.  This step alone can lower a heating bill.
• Take advantage of federal tax credits before they expire December 31, 2011. Some of the federal tax credits are for as much as 30 percent on certain energy-efficient products like HVAC units, heat pumps, hot-water heaters and insulation.

Winters in Arlington Heights can be severe, so if you would like more information about yearly maintenance for your heating system or current tax incentives, contact the professionals at Ibbotson Heating & Air Conditioning Co.We’ve proudly served Northwest Chicago for more than 60 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heating bills and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Ibbotson Heating & Air Conditioning Co. services Arlington Heights, Illinois and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

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