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My highest winter heating bill last year was over $400 - I’ve got to find ways to lower my bills this year. I’ll be taking advantage of my fireplace to reduce heating costs.

Many homes around the world have fireplaces in them. More builders are installing fireplaces as an alternative heat source. Some are standard wood-burning fireplaces, others are direct-vent fireplaces that are fired with natural gas or liquid propane. Both can help reduce the strain of high home heating oil prices as well as other high priced winter fuels.

There are pros and cons to having a fireplace in your home.

On the pro side - there’s a “coziness” factor to having a fireplace. There’s just something about the warmth of a fireplace that no other heating system can quite duplicate.

In addition, fireplaces don’t require power to create heat - just fuel. So, even if your power goes out - you can still have peace of mind when it comes to staying warm.

There are some things to look out for. Some research has shown that fireplaces can be a source of heat loss during the winter. An open damper on an unused fireplace can increase your energy consumption by 20% to 30%. A damper or draft stopper should stay closed unless your fireplace is in use - this will help lower your heating bills.

Another factor to keep in mind is leaks. An improperly sealed fireplace can cause problems and increase your heating costs. Check your seals - re-caulk if necessary.

I’m taking advantage of these tips to help lower my bills and reduce my heating costs.

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