Lower my monthly bill

You may feel like you spend a lot of money to keep your home warm, but the truth is that there are many ways to help save money on heating bills. Here are 10 ideas on how you can help make a difference in your heating bills this winter season.

1. Upgrade to Smart Thermostat

One of the simplest options for saving money on heating bills is to turn the thermostat down. When possible, set your thermostat back, or at least lower it one degree, during sleeping hours and while you are away from home. This will help ensure that home heating dollars aren’t wasted by needlessly heating an empty home. 

Modern thermostats typically include smart functions that allow you to set a schedule based on your living habits, automatically adjusting the indoor temperature to your preferences even when you aren’t thinking about it. You can schedule your heating preferences on a day-to-day basis, or a 5+2 method which will schedule your weekdays and weekend days independently. Some smart thermostats have an “away mode” based on geofencing. This allows for the indoor temperature to be adjusted automatically based on whether the homeowner is home or away.

2. Invest in New Windows

If heating bills are causing you stress, then it may be worth the investment to upgrade old or single pane windows that let in cold air. New, upgraded windows may help minimize heat loss that is causing a spike in energy costs. However, replacing all your windows can be quite an investment. It’s important to research the various window options available for your home, how long they are designed to last, and reputable installation contractors in your area. Investing in upgraded windows may be a way to increase the resale value of your house when the time comes to sell.

3. Reverse Flow of Fan

This may sound counterintuitive but running your ceiling fan during the winter months can help warm rooms and have a positive impact on your heating bill. Setting your fan to rotate clockwise helps push warm air lower in the room. You can make this change on most fans with the simple flip of a switch on the unit itself. Consider keeping the fan speed on low to avoid any unnecessary cooling breeze.

4. Consider Inverter Heat Pump Technology

Heat pumps have come a long way, and are now considered a reliable, efficient way to heat and cool a space without the need of a gas furnace. These systems are very efficient at heating a space even when the outside temperature goes down in the single digits. Heat Pump systems configured with ductless Indoor units comes in many different styles, and can also be zoned easily because each unit is located in the single space it heats and cools.

5. Zoning Your Home

Talk to your HVAC contractor about the potential for zoning. These professionals may be able to configure (or reconfigure) your HVAC system based on how your home is used or designed for additional energy savings. For example, zoning allows you to adjust the temperature in certain rooms or a section of your house that is not used, like the guest bedroom or while kids are away at college, sometimes for weeks at a time. Installing multiple zoned or ductless systems to customize your comfort, is a great way to save on your energy bill.

6. Add Insulation

If your house isn't insulated properly, you are likely losing heat to the outdoors. According to energy.gov, an insulation’s heat flow resistance is measured or rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R-value. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness.

There are several different ways to insulate a house, so it is a great idea to get a home energy assessment from an insulation specialist. The costs of adding additional insulation varies depending on its R-value and quantity required.

7. Utilize Sunlight

While this may seem simple, saving on your heating bills can be as easy as opening your curtains in a sunny room in the house. If your windows are keeping out the cold, the warmth from sunshine may naturally heat up certain parts of your house.

8. Replace Dirty Filters

Making sure that your heating system has clean air filters is crucial to its operation. Replacing the air filter as directed by the manufacturer’s guidelines can help protect your heating equipment from losing efficiency over time! According to Energy.gov, the difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10% to 25%.

9. Negotiate with Your Energy Company

While you can take a lot of steps to reduce how much energy you're using, one simple way to save money is to negotiate your rates (price per KWh) with your utility or energy company. It’s easy to make the call to your energy company to discuss current rates or more affordable plans or, if possible, the potential of switching to a different company.

10. Find a More Efficient Heating System

If you think that the root of your heating problem is an inefficient heating unit, then it might be time to upgrade to a high efficiency system. The more efficient the system, the less energy it requires to heat your indoor space. It’s important to understand how heating systems are rated for their energy efficiency. Here are two common heating system efficiency ratings:

• Heating Season Performance Ratio (HSPF) is the efficiency level rating of a heat pump’s heating operation. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the heating performance of a heat pump.
• Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is the ratio of the annual heat output of a gas furnace compared to the amount of annual fuel energy it consumes. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the heating performance of a gas furnace.

Common Questions

Is it cheaper to leave the heat on all day?

No, you should only turn on your heating system when your home or space reaches an uncomfortable temperature. It is not occupied, that temperature can be lowered a few more degrees. That may help drop the cost of your monthly heating bill. You should also set your thermostat to AUTO or set temperatures on a schedule to minimize unnecessary usage.

How much should my heating bill be?

Heating bills are unique to each home and homeowner. The cost is typically comprised of usage, price per kWh and any additional fees set by your utility company. However, the average winter 2022 electric bill in U.S. homes was $122 per month according to US Energy Information Administration data.

What should I set my heat on to save money?

While some argue that the recommendation is too low for their individual comfort, Energy.gov recommends that you set your thermostat to around 68 while you are awake, and lower when you sleep or are away from home. You can typically save money on your heating bill if you can set the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees lower than your “normal.”

What is the best temperature for sleeping?

The Sleep Foundation estimates that 65°F is a great temperature for sleep. Of course, this can vary from person to person! If you don’t feel it would cause any concern to family members, give it a try if you looking to save on heating bills. But you might want to keep a few extra blankets handy, just in case.