How to keep your house warm without breaking the bank this weekend

EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) – As the temps outside drop below zero everyone will be wanting to keep up the temps inside without overworking their heaters.

Chris Ouellette with Xcel Energy says there are a number of things you can do to prepare for the cold besides turning up the thermostat.

For instance, keep shades open and let the sun in. She also says to be mindful of your exterior doors, limiting how often they’re opened.

Even putting a towel at the bottom of a door can keep the cold air out — and the warm air in.

She adds check your furnace filters and replace them if they covered in dirt and dust.

“One thing we also encourage people to do that they don’t really think about a lot is during the colder months is if you have ceiling fans, run those ceiling fans in a clockwise direction because what that does is it basically forces that warm air that was near the ceiling to fall back down so it uses that warm air in your house a little bit more efficiently,” Ouellette said.

Another tip you may not always think about- put plastic over your windows can prevent cold drafts.