How to Save on Heating Costs in an Apartment

We all know the mantra by now - turn down the thermostat during the winter months and you'll save money. And it's true. According to the Department of Energy, for every degree you lower the thermostat, you'll save 1 percent on your energy bill. But turning down the heat has a big drawback - you have to wear extra clothes to stay warm. The solution? Use a space heater to stay comfortable in the room where family members gather, like the living room. Fireplaces and fireplace inserts can provide space heating, but electric heaters are the easiest way to warm up a room. Curious about how to install a gas fireplace? Here's a complete guide.

In most cases, you can roughly size the electric heater (in watts, that is, a measure of heat output) according to the size of the room. Our 'rule of thumb' is a room less than 100 sq. ft. needs 1,000 watts, a room 100 to 150 sq. ft. needs 1,500 watts, and a room 150 to 250 sq. ft. needs 2,500 watts. This assumes that you only need to raise the room temperature 5 to 10 degrees F for comfort. And we've oversized the heaters a bit to handle extra-cold periods.

A towel warmer ($50 and up) can act like a small space heater for your bathroom and provide you with a toasty towel after bathing. There are freestanding units and units that mount to the wall and are plugged in or hardwired. Towel warmers are available at comfortchannel.com and other online retailers. Towel warmers don't save energy, but they can keep you warm in the bathroom when the house thermostat is turned down. And if the towel bar in your bathroom is busted, here's how to replace it.

To seal gaps, inject foam sealant. Some sealants will push jambs inward as they expand, so be sure to use one that's intended for windows and doors (check the label). Shown is DAP Tex Plus because it's easy to clean up with a damp rag. Most expanding foams are nearly impossible to clean up before they harden. Let the foam harden and trim off any excess foam with a knife. Expanding foam insulation can be tricky to work with. Check out these 17 tips before you use it for the first time.

Weather stripping often becomes loose, worn or distorted when the sash drags or when the strip gets sticky and attaches itself to the frame, then pulls loose when the sash is opened. Windows have weather strip on the sash, frame or both. Regardless of its location, the steps for removing and replacing it are the same. Weather stripping is available from your window manufacturer or online. The window brand and glass manufacturer date are etched in the corner of the glass or in the aluminum spacer between the glass panes. You'll also need the height and width of your sash (take these measurements yourself).

If the weather strip is in good shape and loose in only a few places, like the corners, apply a dab of polyurethane sealant to the groove and press the weather strip into place. Otherwise, replace the entire weather strip. First remove the sash and set it on a work surface so you can access all four sides. If the weather strip is one continuous piece, cut it apart at the corners with a utility knife.

Starting at a corner, pull the weather strip loose from the sash. If the spline tears off and remains stuck in the groove, make a hook from stiff wire to dig it out.

Work the new weather strip into the groove, starting at a corner. You'll hear it click as the strip slides into the groove.

One thing you must never do with an electric heater is plug it in to an extension cord. Place the heater near an outlet and always plug in directly to the outlet without any adapters or extension cords.

Need a place to store the extension cords you're not using with your electric heater? Here's a nifty rack you can make to keep them tidy.

In the winter, reverse the motor by flipping the toggle switch on the motor houseing. Operating the ceiling fan at low speed in the clockwise direction produces a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space.

If your ceiling fan is wobbly, here's how to fix it.

If you use an electric space heater, always follow these safety tips:

• Keep space heaters at least 3 ft. away from drapes, bedding and other flammables.
• Plug space heaters directly into outlets, not into extension cords.
• Don't use space heaters while sleeping.

Tip: Establish a designated space heater zone in rooms where space heaters are used. The zone should be clear of blowing drapes and at least 5 ft. away from other combustibles. For more informaion about preventing home fires, check out this collection.