Saving on Your Heating Bill | Video

Jennifer Joas | 12/25/2012

The snow and cold is here and it`s not going anywhere for the next few months. If your home isn`t properly insulated, you could be spending much more on your heating bill. The first thing you can do is look at your windows and make sure there`s not an air draft that you can physically feel, or that there`s not frost building up on your trim. If you do have those problems, here`s some quick solutions.

"There is Band Aid type fixes where you can go along and you can call areas of your windows, you can even put plastic over your windows. One of the best things to do though is probably go ahead and look for some type of replacement window. Because usually those windows are going to be 20-30 years old and they`ve served their purpose," said Yanish Custom Exteriors Vice President Mike Krumwiede.

Krumwiede recommends looking into energy efficient windows, like triple pane, that have an energy star rating. For North Dakota, the `U` factor should be below a point-30. The lower the number, the less heat you`re losing.

Another tell-tale sign you need better insulation is ice jamming on your roof.

"If it`s melting and then refreezing on the edge of your roof, or parts of your roof. That means you usually don`t have the proper insulation or ventilation," Krumweide said.

Taking these steps to conserve energy in your home will ultimately save you money on your heating bill.

"They have the opportunity to lower their bill. And for us as a producer, whether its natural gas or electricity, as consumers conserve and use less, that delays the process of where we need to do some sort if build out to meet demand," said Mark Hanson with Montana-Dakota Utilities.

Other ways to lower your heating bill is to switch to a digital thermostat and clean and inspect your furnace. MDU estimates that for every degree you save, it`s a one percent savings on your bill.

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