10 mistakes people make with heat

Temperatures have plunged across much of region forcing many of us to dig out the scarf, mittens, and winter hat, but what can you do inside your home to keep warm?

Steve Graham , with Networx.com, recently posted a list of 10 mistakes people make with heat.

1. Keeping a constant temperature 

You may keep your home at one temperature setting but you could be missing out on a big savings opportunity.

Experts recommend using a programmable thermostat to lower temperatures by as much as 10 degrees during the day when you're at work, or at night while you are sleeping.

Results may vary but you could save 5 to 15 percent off your energy bill.

2. Cranking the heat!

If you come home in the middle of the day to a cold house and then turn your thermostat up to 78 degrees you could be burning up some unneeded energy, and wasting money.

Industry leaders say a furnace will take the same amount of time to heat your home regardless of what the thermostat is set to. Grab a hot drink or a blanket and wait it out!

3. Closing vents

So you have a guest room that's not in use... do you close the vent thinking you'll warm up other areas of the house? Stop it!

Experts say you are wasting energy by causing the air system to run inefficiently by changing the air pressure in the whole system. You should never close more than 10% of your heating vents.

4. Fire up the fireplace

If you have a fireplace you probably thing you're saving a bundle by burning a few logs, but the truth is that open flue may be sucking more cold air into your home than you know!

Save the messy wood burning fireplace and look for another solution! 

Steve Graham, of Networx.com , offers up 5 more mistakes people make with heat in his complete article .