The temperatures go down, and the heating bills go up, right? Yes, you will be running your furnace more in the coming months, but you can do several things to stay warm without cranking up the thermostat. Try these ideas to keep you and your family cozy and budget-conscious this winter.

Insulate – Inadequate insulation in your attic or crawl space can suck heat from your home. Insulate bare areas and consider adding more insulation for extra protection against the cold.

Check Registers and Returns – Make sure your registers and cold air returns are open and accessible. Move rugs and furniture that keep heat and air from circulating. Be especially careful to have unobstructed airflow in areas where pipes might freeze.

Use a humidifier – Humid air not only feels warmer, it also holds the heat better and uses less energy from your furnace to maintain heat. A humidifier can add two to five degrees to your air temperature. Humid air is better for your skin and hair as well.  Click here to learn more about humidifiers.

Light a candle – Candles can produce quite a bit of heat in a small space, such as on a kitchen table or near a desk where you may be working. Look for soy-based candles http://www.naturasoy.ca/ that burn cleaner and longer. Make sure to place candles where they will not be a hazard, and never leave a candle unattended – even for a moment.

Use Carpets – Rugs and carpets on bare floors will keep your feet and your home warmer.

Cook  – Using your oven will heat the kitchen while you are cooking. Leave the oven open when you are done to get the most from the warmth while your oven cools.

Pay attention to curtains – Open curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun in and close them at night to keep out the cold. Add curtains to exposed windows to block drafts as well. You can cover windows in direct sunlight with inexpensive shower curtains during the day. Not only will this keep the cold air out, it will also disperse the sunlight into warmth throughout the room.

Block Drafts – Use weather stripping, towels, or fabric draft stoppers under doors to keep drafts out and heat in. Check the door frame and fill in any gaps as well.

Run Ceiling Fans – As you probably know, hot air rises. Running a ceiling fan in reverse will push warm air back down and into a room.

Don’t Run Bathroom Fans – The humidity from your shower will make your house feel warmer.  Don’t run bathroom fans, or at least shut them off as soon as you’re done showering to prevent heat from going out the vent.

Close Off Rooms – Reduce air from circulating and losing heat by keeping doors closed to rooms you don’t use. You can buy magnetic register covers to keep heat from flowing into unused rooms, giving your other rooms more efficient heating. Use smaller rooms if possible. For example, use a less spacious family room for television rather than a larger living room.