When winter approaches, you may dread the inevitable spike in your heating bills. However, there are ways to keep your house warm without breaking the bank. We’ve compiled a list of strategies, from simple lifestyle changes to smart home upgrades, that will help you reduce heating costs for a more energy-efficient home.
Why Your Home Loses Heat
To fix the problem, you first need to find where your home is losing the most heat. Here’s where to look.
Common Areas of Heat Escape
Heat typically escapes through poorly insulated areas, gaps, and openings in your home’s structure. According to The Washington Post, these are some of the most common culprits:
- Poorly insulated ceilings, walls, and floors (31%)
- Windows and doors (21%)
- Air ducts (15%)
- Chimneys and fireplaces (14%)
- Plumbing and wiring penetrations (13%)
- Electrical outlets and switch plates (2%)
In a different study, the U.S. Department of Energy identified that windows are responsible for about 30% of heating and cooling energy losses. This is often where you should start when looking for cracks and gaps that are leaking heated air and allowing cold air in.
Identifying Drafts and Leaks
Anywhere there’s a gap in the wall, floor, or ceiling of your home, there’s a potential for thermal loss. Locating drafts and air leaks around these features will help reduce heating costs. Use these methods around suspected leaks:
- Visual inspection: Look for gaps around windows, doors, and where different building materials meet.
- Hand test: On a windy day, hold your hand near potential leak areas to feel for air movement. You can also wet your skin for increased sensitivity to airflow.
- Candle test: Light a candle and carefully move it around windows and doors. A flickering flame indicates a draft.
Once you’ve identified leaks, you can take steps to seal them and prevent heat from escaping. We’ll show you how to do that and more with the following list of tips and tricks.
13 Ways To Make Your House Warmer
Replacing your home’s windows, doors, and insulation, especially on an older building, will have the biggest impact on heating and cooling costs. However, these projects will also have the biggest impact on your wallet. If huge upgrades aren’t in your budget, several low-cost solutions can still reduce your heating bills. These fixes can be implemented quickly and easily, often without the need for professional help.
1. Seal Windows and Doors
One of the most effective ways to lower your home heating bill is to seal gaps around windows and doors. Here are some easy methods:
- Apply weatherstripping: Use adhesive-backed foam tape or V-strip weatherstripping around door and window frames
- Install door sweeps: Attach these to the bottom of exterior doors to block drafts
- Use window film: Apply clear plastic film to block solar heat gain and reduce glare and UV light
- Caulk gaps: Use silicone caulk to seal small cracks and gaps around windows and doors
2. Optimize Existing Heating Systems
You should prevent your furnace from rapid cycling—when a heating system fires on and off—since it wastes money. It occurs because of a heat-anticipation feature on thermostats that maintains a near-constant room temperature. Most electronic setback thermostats are programmed to act when they sense a 1 degree to 1.5-degree drop. If the thermostat is programmed to less than 1 degree, the heater may go into rapid cycle, firing every three minutes or less to maintain temperature.
To stop rapid cycling, make sure the “cycle-rate adjustment” in the thermostat setup mode reads from 1 degree to 1.5 degrees. On most mechanical thermostats, the amperage scale is set from 0.1 to 1.2 amps. To defeat rapid cycling, set the arrow one notch higher. Let it cycle for 24 hours before adjusting it again. Rapid cycling is common in the relatively warm early and late winter when you’re using a unit capable of heating on the coldest days. Detect rapid cycling in midwinter, when the heater should fire five minutes on, five minutes off.
3. Harness Sunlight Through Windows
The sun provides free heat during the day, and you can reduce the workload on your heating system by taking advantage of it.
- Open curtains and blinds on south-facing windows during sunny days.
- Close window coverings at night to retain heat.
- Trim trees or shrubs that block sunlight from entering your windows.
- Install reflective window film to bounce more heat into your rooms.
4. Use Ceiling Fans in Winter
Ceiling fans can be useful in winter. Most of them have a reverse switch that allows the blades to rotate clockwise. This creates an updraft, pushing warm air near the ceiling down into the living space, potentially allowing you to lower your thermostat setting by a degree or two. This should be especially effective in homes with cathedral ceilings, as heated air can gather too high for you to feel.
To use ceiling fans effectively in winter, set the fan to rotate clockwise at a low speed. Ensure the blades are angled properly (usually about 12 degrees), and always turn the fan off when you leave the room to reduce power usage.
5. Install a Programmable Thermostat
If it’s in the budget, installing a smart thermostat is one of the most effective ways to reduce heating costs. These devices offer precise temperature control and can “learn” your habits to optimize heating schedules automatically. However, even standard programmable thermostats can make a big difference when used correctly.
Choosing the Right Programmable Thermostat
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you choose between programmable thermostats:
- Is this thermostat merely programmable based on the time of day, or does it have smart features?
- Is this thermostat compatible with my current heating system? Is it compatible with other smart home devices?
- Is the interface user-friendly? Does it require a learning curve?
- If it’s a smart thermostat, how does it “learn” my schedule? How do I adjust this schedule if I need to?
- Does this smart thermostat offer energy usage reports? Would these reports be helpful to me? Are there privacy concerns over who can see these reports?
Remember, the best programmable thermostat is the one you’ll use and use properly, not the one with the most features.
Optimal Temperature Settings for Energy Savings
The perfect temperature for your home depends on the climate where you live. However, in general, setting your thermostat at 68°F (20°C) when you’re awake or at home and 60–65°F (15–18°C) when you’re away is a good starting point. By lowering your thermostat by 7–10 degrees for eight hours a day, you can save up to 10% on your annual heating and cooling costs. Programmable thermostats make it easy to maintain these temperature schedules automatically.
6. Make DIY Insulation Upgrades
To improve insulation affordably, tackle the spots where windows, pipes, ducts, and other penetrations come through the solid surfaces of your home. These projects don’t require you to crack into walls.
- Window treatments: Thermal curtains and cellular blinds will improve the energy efficiency of windows
- Pipe insulation: Wrap hot water pipes with foam sleeves to reduce heat loss
- Outlet insulation: Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls
- Attic insulation: This is only an easy DIY job if your attic is unfinished, but adding fiberglass batting to uninsulated surfaces can have a big impact
- Recessed lighting: Replace old, leaky fixtures with airtight recessed lights, especially in cathedral ceilings
- Humidity control: Make sure all bathroom and kitchen fans are working well, and use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces
7. Call a Pro about Your Insulation Options
In some cases, DIY projects may not be enough. While professional options require a larger upfront investment, they can lead to significant long-term savings on your heating and cooling bills. Often, blown-in wall insulation can be installed without needing to tear down existing walls, and spray foam both provides insulation and seals gaps to improve energy efficiency. Talk to a professional insulation contractor about the best option for your home.
8. Switch to a Heat Pump
Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular as whole-home heating systems due to their energy efficiency. Unlike traditional furnaces that generate heat, heat pumps transfer heat from the outside air or ground into your home. This process is more efficient, especially in moderate climates, but improving technology means that heat pumps may even be suitable for colder climates.
If you’re considering installing a heat pump, here are some differences between these devices and traditional furnaces:
- Energy production: Furnaces burn fuel or use electrical resistance to create heat. Heat pumps move existing heat from the outside to the indoors, even in cold weather.
- Energy efficiency: Heat pumps are generally more efficient, especially in milder climates.
- Installation costs: Heat pumps may have higher upfront costs but lower operating costs.
- Lifespan: Furnaces typically last longer but require more maintenance.
- Climate suitability: Heat pumps work best in moderate to chilly climates, while furnaces are better for extreme cold.
Even when maintained well, most furnaces last about 15 to 20 years. When it’s time to replace your furnace, upgrading to more energy-efficient heating appliances can lead to substantial savings on your heating costs.
9. Add Supplemental Heating
Completely replacing your furnace isn’t your only option. You can supplement your current system to remain comfortable while keeping the overall thermostat at a lower temperature. Electrically-produced heat is very efficient, but it’s hard to scale up, so use it only where it’s needed. Space heaters and electric blankets can keep you warm while minimizing furnace usage, but always remember to use them safely.
If you’re open to installing proper ventilation, a wood or pellet stove can also provide localized heat. Installing radiant heating in floors and baseboards is another option, but it’s a fairly substantial upgrade, and it doesn’t work with all subfloors. Ductless mini-splits are another supplemental option, and they have the added benefit of providing cooling in the summer.
10. Dress for Warmth Indoors
You don’t need to buy, build, or install anything to lower your heating bills. Simple changes in your daily habits can have a significant impact without requiring any financial investment. Adjusting your indoor attire can allow you to keep your thermostat at a lower setting while staying comfortable.
11. Heat Your Rooms Strategically
Especially if you have a large house, heating your entire home to the same temperature can be wasteful. Instead, focus on heating the rooms you use most.
- Close off unused rooms: Shut doors and close vents in guest rooms or other infrequently used spaces
- Use zone heating: If your system allows, set different temperatures for different areas of your home
- Spend more time in naturally warmer rooms: Rooms with south-facing windows or those above heated spaces tend to be warmer
- Move furniture away from vents and registers: Anything blocking a vent can prevent proper airflow, leading to cold spots or pressure imbalances in the system
12. Keep up With Regular HVAC Maintenance
Even the newest, most efficient HVAC systems require maintenance to work their best. You may be surprised at the impact keeping up with maintenance can have on your energy savings. Remember to shut off the furnace before performing maintenance.
- Change furnace filters regularly: Replace or clean filters monthly during heating season to improve efficiency
- Bleed radiators: If you have a hot water heating system, release trapped air to ensure even heating
- Clean vents and registers: Remove dust and debris to improve airflow
- Adjust dampers: In forced-air systems, balance the airflow to different areas of your home
- Inspect ductwork: Look for leaks and seal them with metal-backed tape or mastic sealant
- Lubricate moving parts: Check the furnace manufacturer’s instructions
Regular maintenance of your heating system will extend its lifespan and keep it working smoothly. While some furnace maintenance tasks should only be performed by licensed professionals, there are DIY tasks you can do yourself to keep your heating system running efficiently.
13. Know When To Call an HVAC Professional
HVAC units are complicated systems, so furnace installation and repair technicians require special training and licensing. For tasks that go beyond basic maintenance or problems with your system, call a professional.
- Annual professional tune-up: Have an HVAC technician inspect and service your system before each heating season
- Unusual noises or odors: Banging, whistling, rumbling, or strange smells could indicate serious issues that need immediate attention
- Uneven heating or cold spots: This might suggest problems with your ductwork or heating system
- Frequent cycling on and off: If the furnace routinely short-cycles and changing the cycle-rate adjustment doesn’t fix it, there may be a problem with its sensors or limit switches
- Sudden increases in energy bills: If your bills spike without explanation, your system may be malfunctioning
Government Programs and Incentives for Home Heating
In addition to the above strategies, many government programs and incentives are available to help homeowners reduce their heating costs and improve energy efficiency.
Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the federal government offers tax credits for certain energy-efficient home improvements. You can receive a credit for 30% (up to $2,000) of the cost of a new, high-efficiency heating and cooling system like a heat pump. You can potentially earn a credit of up to $1,200 for energy-efficient upgrades to windows, doors, insulation, and electrical panels. Check the Energy Star website or consult a tax professional to learn about current tax incentives.
Local Energy Assistance Programs
Many state governments offer programs to help low-income households with their energy bills or home upgrades. The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides free weatherization services to eligible households. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the Department of Health and Human Services offers financial assistance for energy bills.
Additionally, many utilities offer free energy audits, rebates, or discounts on energy-efficient appliances. Contact your local energy office or utility company to learn about programs available in your area.
Long-Term Strategies for Sustainable Heating
While quick fixes can provide some financial relief, long-term strategies for sustainable heating lead to more significant savings and increased comfort over time.
Home Energy Audits
A professional energy audit can provide a comprehensive assessment of your home’s energy use and identify areas for improvement. Many utility companies offer free or discounted energy audits to their customers. During these audits, a trained technician will use a blower to find air leaks in doors and windows. They will test your appliances for both safety and efficiency. Often, they’ll use tools like infrared cameras to find gaps in insulation that aren’t visible to the naked eye. The audit should conclude with a detailed report containing recommendations for energy-saving upgrades.
Investing in Renewable Energy Sources
For long-term sustainability and energy independence, consider investing in renewable energy sources.
- Solar panels: Generate your own electricity to power electric heating systems
- Geothermal heat pump systems: Use the earth’s constant temperature to heat and cool your home efficiently
- Biomass heating systems: Use renewable organic materials like wood pellets for heating
- Wind energy: In suitable locations, small wind turbines can supplement your home’s energy needs
These systems typically cost more upfront, but they may save you money in the long run, and they’ll reduce your household’s environmental impact.
Our Conclusion
By implementing quick fixes like sealing drafts and optimizing your existing system, along with long-term strategies such as improving insulation and considering renewable energy sources, you can significantly lower your heating bills while maintaining a comfortable home environment. We recommend starting with the most accessible and affordable options and gradually working towards more comprehensive solutions as your budget allows.
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