Start Winterizing Your Home

With a colder than usual winter predicted, there are some steps you can take to avoid high heating bills, according to Ralph Wolff, owner of Jersey Coast Appliance in Toms River and Whiting.

Besides being a potential health issue, dusty filters block air flow, making heating systems less efficient. Changing them at the start of the season and getting your furnace tuned up, especially if you have forced hot air, can help save you money. Wolff said adding a humidifier also is something to consider.

"If you have the proper humidification in your home, you could actually lower the temperature on the average of about two to three degrees and feel more comfortable," Wolff said. "That alone would save you, well I don't know what the percentage is, but it definitely will save you a lot of money in your fuel bills," he added.

Wolff pointed out when the heat is set too high and a home is too dry, it can cause nose bleeds and sore throats and lead to other effects such as wood around windows to contract and splinter.

Keeping the thermostat set to an average of 68 degrees is recommended to help reduce heating costs. "The best thing you could do for yourself is to get a set-back thermostat, so that at night you can drop the temperature, when you're away you can keep the temperature down. It's all done automatically," recommended Wolff.

Above all, he advised having your heating system evaluated by a certified company.