Talking About Duct Maintenance and RepairsTalking About Duct Maintenance and Repairs

Your residential heating system is obviously a very important part of your house. You will want to keep the system running during the coldest days of winter, but it's also understandable if you want to keep your heating costs down. So how exactly do you do about staying warm without causing the heating bill to make you see red? Here are some tips for maintaining your comfort level while still managing to save money on heating.

Combat Dry Winter Air with More Humidity

Humid air feels warmer than air that is dry. (That's why every weatherman always talks about the humidity level in the middle of summer.) Winter air in particular has a reputation for being devoid of humidity or in other words, especially dry. Dry air can cause problems like chapped lips and dry skin, but it can also cause your house to feel colder.

One way you can combat this situation without turning the thermostat up is to try and work some water back into the air. A classic way to do this is to put a pan of water on a radiator or another heated surface until it evaporates into the air. Start hang drying your laundry indoors so the water in the clothes gets into the air. Of course, you could just buy a humidifier and run it as needed, although this will use more electricity and you're obviously trying to reduce energy costs.

Use a Strategic Space Heater or Two

If you have a room that only gets used once in a blue moon, shut the vents off in that area so your heating system doesn't try to keep it heated. This will save you money and then when it comes time to actually use that room, you could turn on a space heater for just an hour or two instead.

Use Your Curtains Wisely

Your residential heating system has to work harder when heated air escapes the home through a drafty window. You can temporarily block this from happening by keeping your curtains drawn in the winter time. Even if you get your drafty window fixed, you may still experience some heat loss that could be prevented with a curtain or two in the right spot.

Staying comfortable this winter doesn't mean having to spend more money on your heating bill. Use everything from curtains to a space heater to strategically warm the house without making your residential heating system go into overdrive