After autumn leaves have fallen and your neighbors have started pulling out the holiday decorations, it takes more than a sweater to keep warm, even inside the house. You may be striving to balance your desire for frugality with a need to keep your teeth from chattering. Heating efficiency is one aspect of home comfort that our real estate agents look out for. But there are ways to keep your home warm while keeping the heating bill low. 

1. First Draft Pick
   Turn the heat up as high as you like, but with leaky windows and door frames, you'll be heating the outdoors as well. While older homes are more likely to have inefficient windows and leaks, new homes can spring a leak suddenly too. Use an infrared thermometer to identify cold spots, and take note of where there might be a gap to seal or caulk that might need touching up. If your home has an attic, know that even the best of the North Canton homes for sale must contend with a drafty attic on occasion.
   
   
2. Seal the Deal
   Some forms of insulation are very DIY friendly. You can fill in small gaps with weatherstripping or with spray foam sealant. You may want a professional to install attic insulation, especially if yours is among the Akron homes for sale with an older type of insulation that needs updating. Sealing windows with heavy plastic will serve many homes well through winter storms.
   
   
3. Mist Opportunities
   One of the ways that air conditioners keep you cool in summer is by removing moisture from the air. You feel cooler in dry air, so in winter, what you need is the reverse. Use a humidifier to keep that warmth close to your skin and prevent chapping through the winter. You can ease winter coughs with a humidifier as well, as your sinuses won't be quite so dry.
   
   
4. Spacing Out 
   Space heaters are more efficient and safer than they've been in previous years. If you're going to spend most of your time in one room, why heat the whole house? Keep the heat low and use a space heater in the areas where you spend the most time. If your home has a fireplace, be aware that they don't quite work the same way. Much of the heat a fireplace produces goes up the chimney. They're great for toasting marshmallows, but not so good at keeping you toasty.
   
   
5. A Switch In Time
   Have you thought to lower the heat before you leave the house — about 10 minutes after you've driven away? A programmable thermostat will help keep heating costs under control by keeping an eye on the heating level for you. You can program the heat to come on just before you hop in the shower, and lower it as you leave for work. The consistency of heating levels will keep your heating bills more manageable. 

Heating bills are a season-bound cost, but paying for heating need not be. Contact your energy company for a billing option that spreads your payments out to a single average monthly amount. This makes budgeting for heating much easier, so you won't worry about sudden cold snaps driving up heating costs. 

If you have any questions about heating efficiency or keeping your home comfortable year-round, we won't freeze you out. Contact us today.