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Toasty home need not be just a dream this winter Whether it's finding help to pay the bills or winterizing a drafty house, Pamela Turner has tips on staying toasty when the weather turns cooler. Methods that seem less expensive, such as warming a house using the oven or lighting a portable gas heater, aren't necessarily going to save money. They may be neither the safest nor the most efficient way to heat your home. "When you use a kerosene or gas heater, you're introducing particulate matter into your home and running the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning," Turner said of unvented portable heaters. Instead of just focusing on added heat sources, consider ways to keep the cold air from coming inside. "See what you can do to reduce heat losses," Turner said. She offers some tips: 1. Winterize your home. "If you can see light around your window, you're losing a lot of heat," she said. "Caulking around windows and adding weather stripping to doors will help reduce heat losses. There are organizations in the community that can help homeowners and renters winterize their homes." 2. Turn down your thermostat. 3. Invest in a window insulation kit. It helps reduce heat loss by a plastic storm window that's installed over existing windows. "Heating costs should be lower this year," Turner said, "However, for people living on a fixed income, many will have to make a choice between paying for medication and keeping the house warm."
Several local and federal programs are specifically designed to help people with very low incomes pay their energy bills."To learn if you qualify for energy assistance, contact your local Salvation Army or Community Action Agency," Turner said.
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