The fall and winter season is the coldest time of the year when harsh weather conditions are common. For many households, it can be difficult to stay warm and cozy without causing your energy bill to increase dramatically. If you want to keep your home energy-efficient without sacrificing your level of comfort, there are a few important steps to take.

Eliminate Drafts

Drafts that are present in the home can increase your energy usage and make the heater work harder as it attempts to raise the temperature of the interior setting. Eliminate drafts by caulking holes or cracks that are present, which can allow air to enter the home and also escape it, according to energy.gov.

Tune Up Your HVAC Unit

Hire a professional to inspect your HVAC unit before the fall season arrives to determine if any issues are present with it. They can examine the parts and clean up the system to ensure that it runs more efficiently during the colder months of the year. You can also have heating oil delivered to your front door from a company like Bucksfuel.com to ensure that you keep your energy costs low with a convenient service that will allow you to stay indoors. The furnace filter should also be replaced once a month or every few weeks, depending on how frequently it's used.

Cook in the Oven

Using the oven to cook casseroles and baked goods is an easy way to feed your family while also heating the interior setting. You can enjoy comfort food throughout the fall and winter seasons while reducing the use of your HVAC system when the oven is in use.

Use the Fireplace

Rely on the fireplace to stay warm and cozy with wood that can be burned to heat the home. The fireplace will keep your energy usage to a minimum and is a natural way of keeping the chill away on gloomy days.

You can also set the thermostat to prevent it from fluctuating throughout the day. Turning it down by 10 degrees will also allow you to save while sleeping at night when extra blankets can be used to stay warm.

Keeping your energy usage low doesn't mean that you have to freeze during the fall and winter season. With the right steps taken, you can reduce your global footprint and avoid spending more to create a cozy setting that is comfortable to spend time in until spring arrives.