With the onset of the cold weather, and some days of just brutal cold — below are some tips to help with your home heating bill:

• Set your programmable thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and lower the setpoint when you’re sleeping or away from home.
• Clean or replace filters on furnances once a month or as recommended by manufacturer.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to perform this task, contact a professional.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• During winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

Remember to select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating equipment.  Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.  See the efficiency standards for information on minimum ratings, and look for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing new products.

To read more energy saving tips, information, and statistics, go to The U.S. Department of Energy at energy.gov/energysaver/home-heating-systems