It’s about that time in Michigan where we’re pulling our winter clothes out of the closet, piling extra blankets on top of the bed and firing up our furnaces. With cold weather rolling in, many homeowners are concerned about the added cost of heating their homes. On top of this, there’s always the worry that you’ll need an unexpected furnace repair or, even scarier, a complete replacement. In this post, we’re going to give you five tips to keep your winter heating bill down and ensure that your furnace is ready to tackle all of the challenges that the cold weather can throw at it. Install a programmable thermostat A good way to keep your bills low is to ensure that you aren’t using heat when you don’t need it. A Honeywell adjustable thermostat lets you easily create a heating schedule that will keep your home comfortable and your wallet happy. Seal up air leaks Reducing air leaks can save the typical household up to 10% on winter heating bills. By sealing exposed areas around the weather stripping on door frames, the gaps around pipes and the unfinished spaces in closets and crawlspaces you can make small repairs that add up to big savings. Try a portable thermostat A portable thermostat allows you to adjust your comfort level from anywhere in the house. Bryant’s Housewise thermostat is a Wi-Fi enabled device that will help you cut costs by reducing your reliance on your home heating system when you don’t need it. Of course, one of the best ways to reduce costs on your heating bill is to call a professional. At Metzger’s Heating & Cooling, our staff is trained to perform thorough, effective inspections that ensure that your furnace is running optimally. Whether we’re checking gas pressures, installing new air filters or helping to increase airflow, we’ll ensure that your furnace is in working order and ready to handle the rigors of winter. So if you’re concerned about your winter heating bill, call the experts at Metzger’s today and let us give you some peace of mind.