During the winter months, you want your home to be a cozy haven against the snow, sleet, freezing temps, and whatever else the season has in store. But spiking the thermostat to a toasty 72 degrees can get expensive, regardless of the type of heating system you have. So, what’s a cost and energy-conscious homeowner to do?

Some permanent and more costly options include replacing drafty windows and doors and adding attic insulation. But there are also several free or low-cost ways to keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long. Here are 8 tips to get you started.

 1. Install a programmable thermostat – and use it. Programmable thermostats allow you to control your home’s temperature whether you’re home or away. But many homeowners never use these devices to their full potential. Program your thermostat to keep your house warmer while you’re awake and to automatically lower the temperature overnight or during times when no one is home. For even more control, choose a smart thermostat that lets you adjust the temperature from your smartphone or tablet no matter where you are.

 2. Make sure heating vents are open. Think closing vents in unused rooms will save you money on heating bills? Think again. Your home’s heating system was selected, sized, and installed for your home. So regardless of how many vents are open or closed, it will generate the same amount of warm air. Closing them can actually cause your system to work overtime, resulting in energy waste, higher heating bills, and excess wear on the system. Partially closing vents can direct air into the right areas, but they should be at least 25 percent open.

 3. Keep interior doors open. Similar to keeping vents open, keeping interior doors open throughout your home will allow air to circulate which helps regulate the temperature throughout your entire home. However, if there are rooms that aren’t connected to your main heating system, blocking them off when not in use can help keep the heat where it’s needed.

 4. Add draft stoppers to exterior doors. A draft stopper can prevent cold air from finding its way into your home through drafty doors. Typically covered in fabric and weighted with rice, beans, or other material, these inexpensive objects are placed in front of doors to prevent winter’s chill from seeping in. They can be purchased at most home improvement stores, or you can make one yourself by cutting a length of fabric to fit your doorway, sewing it into a long tube, and filling it with your stuffing of choice and sewing it shut.

 5. Insulate drafty windows with plastic film. Plastic film is a surprisingly easy and cheap window insulator. Window film insulation kits can be purchased at most home improvement stores. Simply cut the plastic sheet to fit your window, apply adhesive tape around the window frame, and use a hairdryer to seal the film to the tape. Once spring comes around, just peel the plastic off.

 6. Seal your windows. Speaking of windows, don’t forget to replace old caulking and add weather stripping to keep the draft out and warm air in. Start by removing any deteriorating caulk from the window frame. Then, use a caulk gun to slowly run a bead of caulk down the seam of the window. Smooth out the caulk with your finger to finish.

 7. Open curtains and blinds on sunny days. Harness the power of the sun to make your home feel warmer. Open blinds and pull back curtains on sunny days to allow natural sunlight to flood the space. At night, close all curtains to prevent cold air from seeping inside.

 8. Run your ceiling fan on reverse. Run your ceiling fan clockwise during the summer to pull warm air up and make you feel cool. In the winter, set it to counterclockwise to push warm air down where you can feel it. This one simple trick will allow you to turn your thermostat down a couple of degrees and save you money on your heating bill.

Perhaps the most important money-saving tip we can provide is to have your system inspected and tune-up once a year. Annual preventive maintenance not only helps lower your heating bills, but it can help prolong equipment life, ensure fewer repairs, and offer the peace of mind of safe, efficient system operation all winter long.

It it’s been a year or longer since your heating system was tuned up, contact C&D Cooling & Heating today.