How to Save on Your Heating Bills

During the winter months, we all like to be warm and toasty in our homes. But the heating season doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank to pay your energy bills. No matter where you live, there are things you can do to stay cozy while cutting energy costs this winter season.

Saving energy doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or take much time to do. Here are some tips that can help your home stay warm as well as help you save some cash in the process.

1. Don’t Block Your Heating Vents

Keeping your heating vents (this includes return air vents) free of clutter, window coverings and heavy objects lets the air flow freely and is an easy fix that can be a quick cost saver. A few common heat blockers include curtains, furniture, and even toys.

save on heating bill - don't cover vents

2. Respect the Furnace

If you have things stacked up against your furnace, or if anything might be blocking your furnace air intake, be sure to move them! Also, improve airflow for your furnace by keeping doors open when possible. This allows the warm air to circulate freely throughout the house.

save on heating bill - respect the furnace

3. Check Your Air Filter Often

Be sure to check the filter on your furnace to make sure it’s not dirty on a regular basis. Checking it once a month is good advice to follow. Take it out and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see light through it, it needs to be changed. An effective and efficient furnace is one with excellent airflow and a clean air filter allows that. This is one of the easiest things you can do to help your furnace perform at its best that many people don't know about or forget about doing and it can make a difference on your heating bill too.

save on heating bill - check air filter often

4. Turn on Ceiling Fans

It may seem contradictory, but using ceiling fans in the winter can actually push heat back down rather than letting it rise. Keep it spinning on low and make sure the blades turn clockwise when you look up (the opposite of what it should do in summer) and the ceiling fan will push the warm air back downwards.

save on heating bill - turn on ceiling fans

5. Bundle Up

I know. This brings back bad memories of tightwad dad keeping the thermostat to just above freezing and telling me to throw on a sweater too. But it’s real. Keeping yourself warmer by adding a sweatshirt, sweater, hoodie or blanket instead of the whole house just makes sense. Be especially aware of keeping your feet warm. A great pair of socks or slippers could warm up your feet—which makes your whole body feel warmer.

6. Check That Thermostat

Lowering your thermostat a few degrees will likely not be the difference between life and death (especially with the aforementioned slippers and sweater!), and it can even take 5-10% off your monthly bill. Make sure to lower the thermostat when the house is empty or while everyone is sleeping. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can put in your preferences and let the thermostat do the adjusting for you.

7. Take Your Thermostat to the Next Level

If you want to up the thermostat game, even more, you can install a smart thermostat, like a NEST or Ecobee, that learns your household behaviors and adjusts your heating needs accordingly. It automatically goes to an “away” setting when it senses that the house is empty or its occupants are asleep. These upgraded thermostats pay for themselves pretty fast. In fact, by cutting energy consumption by 20-30%, you can save about $180 a year in energy costs.

8. Use Your Windows for Efficiency

When the sun is shining, open your blinds or curtains and let it help heat your home. Then at night or on cold days, close the window covering to help increase insulation.

9. Repair Air Leaks in Your Home

Air leaks mean energy is flying out the window – along with your moola. Some easy fixes include adding weather stripping to doors and windows, sealing drafts with putty or caulk, installing attic insulation, and repairing any holes or damage in the air ducts.

save on heating bill - repair air leaks in home

10. Humidify

Adding either a whole-home or a room humidifier has a number of advantages. First, humid air makes the home feel warmer. But second, humidity in the cold winter months is great for your skin and hair, and even for wood floors and furniture.

11. Schedule a Furnace Checkup

Winter means your furnace will be working hard to keep your house comfortable and warm. Manufacturers recommend you have your furnace checked once a year by a licensed and certified HVAC professional. A quick checkup—at Any Hour Services we call it a tuneup—could help make sure your furnace is running safely and efficiently. It also helps you save money not only now on a better-running furnace, but catching small fixes could save you from big—and costly—repairs down the road.

save on heating bill - have a furnace tuneup

12. Get a More Energy-Efficient Heating System

Most of the furnaces chugging away in our homes use dated technology that wastes your pocket money as well as the nation’s environmental resources. If your furnace is ready for an update, choose one that will save you some cash in the long run. Investing in an Energy Star furnace can save you up to $75 annually on energy bills. Rebates are available for some areas when you purchase energy-efficient furnaces or other energy-saving devices.

save on heating bill - high efficiency furnace