4 ways to cut winter energy bills
These four home products can let you burn less cash when temperatures crash.
Annual energy savings: $220
Pays for itself within: 5 months
Wonder why your heating bills are high even though you've done everything you can think of to make your home airtight?
You could hire a pro to do a home energy audit, which will set you back $100 to $400. (Some utility companies offer free audits, but they may not be as comprehensive.) Or you could buy a thermal leak detector.
Current models, such as the Black & Decker Thermal Heat Detector, accurately pinpoint where energy seepage is happening. (Two common trouble spots: around outlets and light fixtures.)
"This is a good way to find places where the insulation may have settled," says Tom Simchak, a research associate at the Alliance to Save Energy.
Once you identify problem zones, you or a pro can seal them.
NEXT: More efficient attic insulation
