With the temperatures outside quickly beginning to drop, many homeowners have found themselves already beginning to deal with the high energy bills that often come along with using their home heating system. The good news is, taking action now can prevent you from sharing in this fate. This is because by utilizing even one of the tips outlined below, you will be able effectively reduce your heating bills this winter.

Install A Programmable Thermostat

If you have yet to invest in a programmable thermostat for your home, making this investment is one of the very best things you can do to lower your heating bills. This is because, in exchange for your relatively small investment, you will have the ability to minimize your energy waste while maximizing your comfort level.

A programmable thermostat works in two ways to save you money. First, you can choose to program your heating system to turn on and off at specific times. For instance, you may wish to leave the heat off while you are at work and set your thermostat to turn the heat on an hour or so before you are scheduled to return home. This will allow you to come home to a warm house without wasting energy while you are away.

Secondly, you can use your programmable thermostat to alter your temperature settings at different times throughout the day. For example, you may wish to turn your heat down during the overnight hours when you are able to stay warm using heavy blankets, but turn your temperature settings back up shortly before you wake in the morning. Using your thermostat in this way will ensure that you are only paying for the heat that you need to stay comfortable at all hours of the day and night.

Turn Your Thermostat Down By One Degree

Small temperature differences are virtually impossible for your body to detect. For instance, if you were to walk from a room that is 20 degrees into a room that is 21 degrees, you would be hard pressed to determine which room is which.

While your body may not pick up on small variations in the temperature of your home, the amount of heating fuel that your furnace uses to produce these different temperatures will be noticeably different. In fact, by choosing to turn down the temperature settings on your thermostat by even a single degree, you will see a decrease of up to 3% on your next heating bill.

If you are looking for a more dramatic decrease in your heating costs, continue turning your thermostat down by a single degree each time your body adjusts to your new temperature setting. By the time you have achieved a five degree difference in your temperature setting, you will be enjoying a decrease in your energy bills of as much as 15%. Contact a professional like Summers & Smith Cooling & Heating for more suggestions on how to save on utilities.