Money-Saving Moves

• Some of the things you can do to protect your home against the cold will also save you money. One easy first step is to clean the air filters of your heating system monthly. If you have a heat furnace or central heating, make sure the ducts are not leaking or cracked. This alone will significantly reduce the effectiveness of the heating process and will not only cost you more to heat your house, but will also take longer.
  
  If your home is due for some remodeling, consider replacing your heating system with energy-efficient heating equipment. A licensed contractor can go over your home and help you decide what you need and what changes are necessary to make it work. If you're trying to save money, keep in mind that manufacturers tend to offer special discounts and rebates in spring or fall.
  
  

To Stay Warm

• Walk around your house and look for cracks and gaps that may be letting cold air in. This is especially obvious around windows and doors, but it can also happen through the attic or where cables and ducts enter or exit the house. When you find an open gap, seal it and insulate it so there's no waste of warm air.
  
  Always close the doors to the rooms that are not in use. This is especially important if you have electric warmers or space heaters rather than central heating. Concentrate the heat in the rooms you are using and close off the rest of the house. Also, use cold days to bake rather than cook on the stove, so the oven can warm up the kitchen while you're doing it.
  
  A fireplace is a great option to warm up a room instead of an electric heater, as long as you make sure that the vents are open and that you don't live the fire unattended. Portable kerosene heaters will heat up a room fast, but they're dangerous if the rooms are not properly ventilated, as they produce a high amount of indoor pollutants in a rather short amount of time. If you're buying one, make sure it's UL-approved and only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. While the heater will work with camp stove fuel or even gasoline, these can lead to poisoning or explosions.