Fall has officially arrived (and summer’s last strangled gasp ended the first week of October in my part of the world). As I write this, I’m employing a few of the tips below, and by the time you read it, I’ll have completed the rest of my personal lower-heating-bill to-do list. I live in a place that gets very cold and snowy winters, so I don’t mess around. Here are eight ways you can keep your winter heating bills under control, too.
1. Change your air filters
Before you even consider turning your heat on for the first time when it gets cold, it’s a good idea to change out your furnace air filters. Doing so will make your heating system more efficient. Plus, you won’t have the pollen and dust mites of spring and summer blowing out your vents, making you sneeze. And since we’re coming up on cold and flu season (not to mention another COVID-19 winter), do yourself a favor and take this step to minimize how many boxes of tissues you’ll go through.
2. Cover your windows
If you’re a renter like I am, there’s very little you can actually do to permanently improve your home’s energy efficiency — so I recommend leaning on as many temporary solutions as you can find. My current rental has extremely old leaky windows in the kitchen, living room, and dining room, and since I don’t like paying to heat the outdoors (and can’t replace the windows), I buy plastic sheeting and use it to seal winter outside. You can get the plastic and double-sided tape in a kit at stores like Home Depot, for just a few dollars. Just be sure to measure your windows first, so you know you’re buying the right size.
3. Reverse your ceiling fans
If you have ceiling fans, you can use them through winter, too. In summer, your fans should spin counterclockwise, but in the winter, you can switch them to spin clockwise instead. This will pull cold air near the ground upward and distribute warm air more evenly throughout your living space.
4. Schedule an energy audit
Did you know that you can actually hire a professional to come to your home and make recommendations for improving your energy usage? It’s true! This service might be available through your utility company or even your state or local government. And if you’re making improvements that could qualify you for a tax break (such as installing solar panels), you’ll need to have an energy auditor certify your home anyway.
5. Sign up for budget billing
Another service you might be able to access through your utility company is budget billing. I signed up last year, and the company calculates my monthly bill based on historic usage, and every few months, my bill is adjusted (up or down) to reflect actual usage as well as the changing cost of gas and electricity.
Note that this doesn’t actually make your bill cheaper (use my other tips for that), but it does end the game of Heating Bill Roulette you might currently be playing. This is when you take a deep breath before opening your bill and cross your fingers that it’s not higher than your checking account can bear. Instead, you get more predictable bills — the company should notify you if your bill will be changing the following month.
6. Install a smart thermostat
Once again, homeowners have the edge over renters here. I’m fortunate that my current rental (as well as my last one, come to think of it) has a programmable (or “smart”) thermostat. Since I no longer work outside my home, I keep it set to maintain a constant temperature of 64° F all winter long, but if you go to an office for your workday, there’s no reason to keep your home as warm as you usually do during that time. Set it to go down to a lower temperature while you’re away, and maybe also at night (and add an extra blanket to your bed).
7. Employ a space heater
I love space heaters — for less than $100, you can warm a small space and keep your central heat turned down. Space heaters are best used in a room with a door that can be closed; I’m writing this article from my home office while a space heater runs and keeps me (and my three cats, who also love a good space heater) warm. Just be smart about space heaters: Never run it if you’re not in the room, protect it from falling over, and keep it away from anything flammable, plus pets and kids.
8. Put on a sweater
Okay, this last one is classic Dad advice, but some of that Dad advice is actually pretty good! It’s tempting to just crank up the heat if you’re feeling chilly at home, but if your goal is to pay less this winter, this move will undo the progress you’ve made with my tips above. Instead, go put on a sweater (or a cozy hoodie). You can also invest in a soft throw blanket to keep on your couch. And if you have pets, you may just find that they’re more game to snuggle with you if you’re under a blanket — this is especially true of cats, I have found.
Winter is coming — are you ready? Make the above moves to keep your heating bills under control.
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