How to Prepare Your Home for Winter and Get Help with Heating Bills – NBC Connecticut

When the cold weather hits, experts offer tips on how to secure your home so your heating costs don’t rise steeply.

According to state data, Connecticut has one of the most expensive monthly energy rates in the country, with the monthly average being $166 for electricity, $76 for heating oil and $39 for natural gas.

Brian Drouin, HVAC technician at Aiello Home Services, has some tips for homeowners.

“The cleaner your boilers, the cleaner your filters, the cleaner your systems. They run longer, fewer failures, isolation,” he explained. “New windows in the house are great. Anything you can do to seal energy loss to the outside world will make a big difference to your fuel bill.”

He said it’s important to maintain the heating system year-round and make sure your home is properly sealed to prevent drafts.

“Anything you can do to stop drafts in your home will make a big difference, not only to your comfort but also to your wallet,” he added.

When it comes to your wallet, organizations like the Connecticut Association for Community Action can help. They connect people to financing through the federal energy assistance program.

“The cost of everything has gone up, right? And so people very often have to make difficult decisions: “Do I heat my house?” Do I buy groceries? Will I get my medication, my medicine?’ Things like that. “So community action agencies can support customers who come to us and apply to try to help them and help them cover their energy costs,” said Rhonda Evans, executive director of CAFCA.

The assistance program is accepting applications for this winter season. You can apply online or connect with a community action program near you.

“It is a potential resource for every income-eligible citizen of the state of Connecticut, and we encourage people to apply to potentially receive this helpful benefit. To reduce some of the stressors surrounding your home’s heating costs,” Evans added. “I think the energy assistance program can help families relieve some stress in the winter when it’s cold and there are so many other things families have to worry about.”