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.
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Here’s seven must-read tips on ways to avoid lighting up your heating bill this winter:
- Replace your furnace filter every three months to keep your furnace running efficiently (est. savings: $53)
- Seal leaks around doors, windows and exterior wall electrical outlets to keep the warm air in (est. savings $56.20)
- Insulate your basement to improve the overall comfort of the basement and prevent warm air escaping along the joist cavities (est. savings: $99.30)
- Insulate your attic to cut down on heating costs. You should have a minimum of 12 inches of insulation (est. savings: $61.40)
- Lower the temperature setting on your thermostat by two degrees (est. savings: $150)
- If your furnace is older or experiencing frequent breakdowns, upgrade to a high efficiency furnace (est. savings: $299.70)
- 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.
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