These energy saving tips will help reduce your heating cost

DAYTON — Miami Valley residents are getting hit in the wallet by the bitter cold in the form of high energy bills.

“Our heating bill went up about 100 bucks this past month and we felt it,” said Kent Vanderkolk of Fairborn, “We enjoyed the last two winters when it wasn’t so bad.”

Eva Grooms of Dayton said her energy bills have doubled from last year.

“It’s ridiculous but at the same time I can’t be too mad because it’s so bitterly cold,” she said.

To save some dough on your heating costs, you can do several things around your home -- some of them don’t cost a thing, according to consumer expert Clark Howard.

• Open curtains and blinds during peak sun times to take advantage of the natural light.
• Make sure your vents aren't blocked by furniture.
• Close your chimney flue when it's not in use.
• Put ceiling fans into reverse mode to push warm air down.

However, shutting doors to unused rooms and closing registers, are not good ideas, according to Chris Bryant, service manager at McAfee Heating and Air.

“That can actually reduce air flow, which can lead to overheating and malfunction of a system,” Bryant said.

If you are willing to pay a little bit for energy efficiency, Clark recommends these steps:

• Replace old bulbs with LED bulbs.
• Buy a programmable thermostat.
• Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors.
• Put plastic film over windows.
• Get a water heater blanket if your unit is more than five years old.

Moisture from a humidifier will also make your home feel warmer. If you choose a portable unit, only use distilled water.

“Folks will use tap water, which puts minerals in the air which gets sucked up into the filter. Believe it or not, it can clog up a filter in as little as a week,” said Bryant.

It is also recommended that you have your heating and air system serviced and replace your air filter regularly to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently, Bryant said.