Don’t let your heating budget go up in smoke

It’s fun to cozy up by the fireplace now that temperatures are dropping, but the crackle and flames can do more than send smoke up the chimney – they can take your heating budget along with it. That’s because traditional, open-hearth fireplaces draw air from inside your home, making your furnace work overtime to replace it.

Here are five tips for more cost-effective comfort:

• Turn your thermostat down to 55 F when using your fireplace.

• Open a nearby window approximately 1 inch so the fireplace can draw cooler air from outside instead of warm air from inside your home.

• Install snug-fitting, well-sealed glass doors to limit the amount of room air that’s drawn in.

• Consider installing an energy-efficient fireplace insert, which can keep more heat in your home.

•  Close the flue damper when your fireplace isn’t in use to keep warm air inside.

Find more energy-saving heating tips online.