How Turning the Heat Off , Could Damage Your Home.br 'Newsweek' reports that people in the United States are br facing an energy crisis amid a cost of living crisis that's br leading to difficult decisions like cutting back on heating. .br According to a report by the Energy Information br Administration, households that heat with oil br or gas will see prices increase by as much as 28. .br Last month, CNN reported that Americans br are turning their heating off entirely br in an attempt to save money. .br 'Newsweek' spoke with experts to find out br about the potential damage completelybr turning off the heat could do to a house.br Cold temperatures submit the various br finishes and materials in your home br to shrinking and the drying effects of br the lower relative humidity levels usually br not found in a climate-controlled home, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff br at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.br Cold temperatures submit the various br finishes and materials in your home br to shrinking and the drying effects of br the lower relative humidity levels usually br not found in a climate-controlled home, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff br at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.br It is most often natural materials br like wood flooring, wallpaper, br and furniture that these effects are br most noticeable at the surface level, .., John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff br at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.br ... but pipes freezing and splitting, boilers br and radiators cracking, and refrigerant-br driven appliances breaking down are all br the next round of much deeper trouble br you want to avoid at all costs, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff br at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.br ... but pipes freezing and splitting, boilers br and radiators cracking, and refrigerant-br driven appliances breaking down are all br the next round of much deeper trouble br you want to avoid at all costs, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff br at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.br According to 'Newsweek,' experts say that br insulating your home, while expensive, br can save money in the long run. .br Efficiency is best gained by sealing br the building or home. It doesn't matter br how efficient your heating system br is if all the heat it creates seeps br out the windows and walls, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff br at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.br According to the Environmental Protection Agency, br properly insulating your home could save an average br of 15 on heating and cooling costs per year.