Most mothers I know want to save a little money, and that means tackling minor things yourself. If your furnace needs servicing, you should definitely call a professional, but little things can be done all by yourself. A few inexpensive supplies from the local hardware store can help you keep your family warm and cut that home heating bill.
Leaks and Draft Have to Go
If you live in a house that is not Energy Star-rated, you almost certainly are losing some warm air through the gaps and cracks in your home. You might be losing as much as 35% of the precious heat your furnace is supplying. A lot of people blame their windows, especially if the windows are older, but unless the glass is cracked, it's probably not the windows. If you do replace your windows, invest in the double-glazed type, and hire a professional. Don't install windows yourself.
But, like I said, it's probably not the windows. One of the cheapest items in the hardware store is caulk. Buy some. Caulk baseboards and window trim on all exterior walls. Also caulk around light switches and electrical outlets on those same walls. Exterior walls is where you're losing your heat, so stop up those gaps.
Doors are another place where the heat slips out, so purchase (and actually install!) some high quality weatherstripping. This isn't hard to do and takes only a few minutes. Then train those kids to actually shut the door! Weatherstripping does nothing to help you if the doors aren't shut.
Insulating Makes the Difference
I know you probably can't insulate your entire house by yourself. But you can use some ready-to-purchase products from the hardware store to help. Do you have an electric water heater? Have you wrapped it in an insulating jacket or blanket? No? Then check the water heater's manual and go out and purchase an insulating jacket of the appropriate size. I got one for just under $50. Then actually put it on. Don't do this if you have an oil-powered heater and if you have a natural gas water heater, get the insulation installed by a professional.
You can also add some insulation to your heating system. Take a look at your ducting and you'll realize that you're losing a lot of heat to the basement before the heat even gets upstairs. Yes, you're heating the basement, but that heat can really be used elsewhere. You can wrap your ducting in a pretty silver insulation and secure it with duct tape to solve the problem, instantly saving yourself a good deal of money. Do you have radiators instead? Wrap insulation around the exposed heating pipes in the basement or crawlspace.
Lower the Thermostat
I know everyone says this, but few people actually do it. Turn your thermostat down by 3°C or even 6°C when you go out for the evening or when you go to bed. A thicker blanket can help offset the cooler temperature and make you feel cuddled at the same time. You can even get a programmable thermostat (mine cost about $40) and install it. I did this myself following the directions that came with the thermostat. It's not difficult and you can save yourself a significant amount of money.
It's true that the lower you turn your thermostat, the more money you'll save, but don't be extreme. 5°C is probably too cold for a house with children. Be reasonable. I turn mine down to 15°C every evening and get up a half hour before the kids to turn it back up to 19°C. They stay warm and I can wear a thicker sweater for 10 minutes while the house warms up.
It's cheap and easy to save yourself a few bucks in the cold winter months. But it does require some time, especially when you're insulating and caulking. So plan ahead and you'll be free of drafts this winter.
