Cranking on the furnace? Some steps to avoid burning cash

It’s late October, and yes, it’s getting cold outside. It happens every year.

If they haven’t already, the majority of Canadians – even Torontonians – won’t be able to put off cranking on the furnace for much longer.

But that can be a pricey proposition.

With heating chewing up about 65 per cent of the average home’s natural gas use, estimates provided by nat-gas company Direct Energy put the average annual heating bill at $1,300.

But it doesn’t have to be so expensive, says Dave Walton, the company’s resident heating specialist.

In fact, you can cut your bill dramatically.

There are about half a dozen steps to save folks as much as $770 in annual heating costs, Walton says, or roughly the price of one all-inclusive round-trip to Veradero, Cuba.

Tip One: “Regardless of the actual amounts you can save, the most important thing you can do is to ensure you replace your furnace filter every three months. If a furnace filter is not changed in a reasonable amount of time that can cause premature breakdown,” Walton says.

Here’s seven must-read tips on ways to avoid lighting up your heating bill this winter:

1. Replace your furnace filter every three months to keep your furnace running efficiently (est. savings: $53)
2. Seal leaks around doors, windows and exterior wall electrical outlets to keep the warm air in (est. savings $56.20)
3. Insulate your basement to improve the overall comfort of the basement and prevent warm air escaping along the joist cavities (est. savings: $99.30)
4. Insulate your attic to cut down on heating costs. You should have a minimum of 12 inches of insulation (est. savings: $61.40)
5. Lower the temperature setting on your thermostat by two degrees (est. savings: $150)
6. If your furnace is older or experiencing frequent breakdowns, upgrade to a high efficiency furnace (est. savings: $299.70)
7. Clean your ducts to remove dust and debris and help your furnace work more efficiently (est. savings: $53)

Admittedly, some of these steps require a pretty hefty outlay of cash up front, so the $770 figure is the normal run-rate of savings once those costs have been sunk into your efficiency drive.

For renters and/or those on tight budgets, Walton advises to change the filter, and caulk up drafty windows as well as replace weather-proofing around doors that may be letting in cold air. And if it’s in the budget, an autumn check-up by a furnace technician.

“If you were to do, say, three of the easier changes, that would result in about $260 in savings,” he said.