Northborough, MASS. - Some experts say the biggest mistake people make when turning on the heat for the winter is not sticking to a plan. 

“The last thing you want to do is be running around when the winter hits trying to get these last-minute things taken care of,” Rocky’s Ace Hardware assistant store manager, Steve Secrest, said. “It’s going to be frustrating and it’s going to cost you more money in the long run and you’re going to be cold.”

Secrest recommends following a checklist. He said the most important thing to do is get your home heating system inspected. Then, replace any old or dirty furnace filters.

“A dirty filter is going to make your system work harder. The harder your system works, the more electricity it is going to use. The more oil and power it is going to use and the more money that is going to cost you,” Secrest said. 

If you’re aiming to save money and keep warm, Secrest said insulating all windows in your home can help. By lining each window, the plastic acts as a barrier between the glass and cold keeping the heat in and the cold air out.  

“That cold is going to seep into your glass and permeate through into the home but when you have this barrier that is going to reduce the amount of cold that is actually able to come in,” he said. 

Other simple steps to follow include running a ceiling fan and making sure all cracks in doorways are sealed.

“That’s going to pull some of that warm air that has risen down and into the room and disperse it nicely,” Secrest said. “If you have the air escaping through the door or crack that is going to cost you even more so make sure you have those areas sealed up and door jams fitted with a nice jam or door sweep.”

While it’s tempting to adjust the thermostat when you’re cold, Secrest said a consistent temperature stops the system from working more than it needs to.  

“This is going to keep a consistent heat throughout the home and save you money on that heating bill when you get that in which usually isn’t the greatest but hopefully if you’ve taken all these steps you’re going to see a return on that,” he said.