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I’ve collected some tips for reducing heating costs - in an effort to lower my bills this winter. Here they are:

Heating your home throughout the winter months can become a costly expense. With Christmas just around the corner, it’s important to make the most of my family budget. If you’re like me, you may be paying almost twice as much to heat your home as you did a few years ago. However, you can cut down your heating costs a lot by using these tips:

* Energy Audit - You should do an energy audit of your home and identify places where heat may be leaking out of your home. Check around the doors, windows and fireplace to see if you can feel a draft. You can use caulk, weather stripping, door sweeps, plastic and other appropriate means to close off these leaks. If your house is not sealed properly, you will have be spending money unnecessarily.

* Reduce Energy Consumption - Try not heating the areas of your home that you do not use regularly like guest rooms and unused bedrooms. You can close down the ducts and close doors for a reduction in your winter heating costs.

* Turn down the heat - Use space heaters to heat the room that you spend the most time in. This is a great way to save on your heating costs. If your space heaters are new and up to code, you should have no problem using them at all and you will find it helps to keep your heating bills down.

* Find a set temperature that is comfortable in your home. You should keep your thermostat a at a steady temperature and if you’re feeling chilly, wear more clothes - think layers. You can actually turn the heat down at night when you are sleeping because your bed covers to keep you warm.

* Consider a programmable thermostat to raise and lower the temperature at certain times of the day. Your thermostat can do this when you are not at home and you will not have to worry about having your home heated too heavily when you are away.

* If your water heater is in an unheated space you can wrap it in insulation to prevent heating loss. This is something that you can find at almost any type of home improvement store.

* Wash your clothes in cold or warm water whenever possible. This will save you on your heating bill too.

* In the winter times open up your blinds or curtains to let the warm sun shine through. This will help to keep the room on the sunny side or the south side warmer. Make sure you can shut them again when the sun goes down to keep the chilly breeze out too.

I’m already starting to see results and lower my bills - I hope you are able to put these tips for reducing your heating costs to good use.