18 Ways to Reduce Your Home Heating Bill This Winter

As homeowners across the country struggle to stay warm during the cold winter days, many will wonder about the efficiency of their homes and how to reduce their heating bills. There are many ways you can bring down the cost of heating your home, including making your house more energy-efficient and upgrading to more affordable heating fuel, like natural gas. Below, we’ll discuss 18 ways you can reduce your heating bills this year.

Environmental Benefits of Reducing Your Heating Bill

Most homeowners understand the financial benefits of making their homes more energy-efficient, but many don’t realize the impact it can have on the environment. Taking just a few steps to keep heating bills down will also put less strain on the environment, reduce the amount of fossil fuel burned, and contribute to slowing down global warming.

How Much Money You Can Save

On average, taking steps to reduce your heating bills and making your home more efficient can save you up to about 30% on your heating bills! For most homeowners, this savings translates to hundreds of dollars per year, which quickly adds up to thousands over multiple winters.

 

18 Ways to Reduce Your Heating Bill This Year

Below are 18 of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your heating bill this year and make your home more efficient, more comfortable, and more environmentally friendly.

 

  1. Wear Warmer Clothes – We naturally lose a lot of heat to the air around us, so bundling up by wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks instead of shorts and t-shirts can help make you feel warmer without having to crank the heat quite as high.

 

  1. Open Your Blinds – If you have window treatments, open them during the day to let the warming sunlight in and close them at night to maximize efficiency.

 

  1. Don’t Heat Unnecessarily – Many homeowners heat their entire home needlessly. Limit your heat to the rooms you frequent by closing doors in unused rooms or using zones to direct heat only where you need it.

 

  1. Cook More – Using the stove or oven in your house instead of eating out or ordering in will naturally help heat up your home.

 

  1. Turn Ceiling Fans On – Hot air naturally rises, so warm air from your HVAC system will hang around the ceiling. Turn your ceiling fans on to redistribute the warm air down to the living space.

 

  1. Seal Windows and Doors – Windows and doors can leak hot air outside if the seals are compromised. Reseal them to reduce heat losses.

 

  1. Seal Your Ducts – Your HVAC ducts can also loosen over time and leak warmed air into your attic or behind your walls. Have a technician come in to seal the ducts if necessary.

 

  1. Change Your HVAC Filters – Changing your HVAC filters will improve airflow through the ducts and make your system run more efficiently, reducing operating costs and the risk of outages.

 

  1. Reduce the Thermostat Setting – Perhaps the simplest way to reduce heating bills is to turn the thermostat down a few degrees. You can use blankets or additional clothing to stay warm.

 

  1. Re-Insulate Your Home – If you’re up for an involved home improvement project, replacing insulation around the outside of your home can drastically improve the overall efficiency.

 

  1. Schedule an Energy Audit – Consider scheduling an energy audit with a professional like us. We can look at where your home is losing heat and provide advice on reducing losses.

 

  1. Replace Old Windows – Old windows can have broken seals or cracked panes that can promote heat leaks. Replacing old windows can have a significant impact on your home’s efficiency.

 

  1. Use a Smart Thermostat – Upgrading to a smart thermostat lets you program when heat is called for and where. You can automate your heating so that only the parts of the house you’re using are heated precisely when you use them.

 

  1. Upgrade Your HVAC System – Although the cost of upgrading your HVAC system to a new energy-efficient model is high upfront, you can end up recuperating the money over the long term with the increased efficiency.

 

  1. Turn Heat Down When You’re Out – There’s no need to heat your home while you’re out, so turning the thermostat a few degrees while everyone is at work is a simple way to reduce heat costs.

 

  1. Make Sure Vents Aren’t Blocked – Blocked HVAC vents can put additional strain on your system and make your home less comfortable. Walk through your house and make sure all vents and returns are unblocked.

 

  1. Use Space Heaters – If you’re only planning on being in a small area in your home, using a space heater instead of heating the entire floor or room can help reduce heating costs quite a bit.

 

  1. Call For HVAC Servicing – Finally, consider contacting our experts for preventative maintenance on your HVAC system. We can ensure moving parts are lubricated, damaged parts are replaced, and everything is functioning as intended for the most efficient heating possible.