Cool Tips to Help You Lower Your Winter Home Heating Bill

Jan. 27, 2011 — -- The nation is in the grip of a record-breaking winter.

Given the unprecedented snow and cold, home heating costs are sure to be of concern to families.

The average American household is expected to spend nearly $1,000 this year on fuel expenses, Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, said today on "Good Morning America."

Hobson, who is the "GMA" personal finance contributor, offered the following tips for how you can reduce your winter home heating bill:

One of the easiest ways to save on home heating costs is to turn down your heat. Reducing the temperature on your thermostat by just one degree can shave up to 3 percent off of your home heating bill, Hobson said. Those who cannot live with a decrease should consider dropping the temperature 10 to 15 degrees while they are away at work. That could save 10 percent, and if you keep the temperature down while you are sleeping you could save an added 10 percent, Hobson said.

Click HERE to see more of Mellody's tips to cut your home heating costs.

You should consider a programmable thermostat, which would be especially handy if you tend to forget to turn down the heat when you are sleeping or away from home. You can program these thermostats to automatically lower the temperature at certain times, she said. The devices start at around $50, and could pay for themselves within a year, she added.

Who doesn't love a hot shower in the winter? You can reduce the temperature on your hot water heater and still enjoy your showers, Hobson said. Most water heaters are factory set to 140 degrees, but you could reduce that to 120 degrees and not feel any difference in your shower, Hobson said.

Lowering the temperatures by 20 degrees could mean a savings of at least 6 percent in your water heating costs, she added.

Think about getting a low-flow shower head, which uses at least 25 percent less water, Hobson said. Many of these shower heads costs less than $20, and you won't feel a difference in the water pressure, she added.