Tips for Saving Money on Home Heating Costs

When frigid winter temperatures arrive, energy bills skyrocket in many households. Heating your home through a harsh winter can get expensive. While you want to stay cozy and warm indoors, you don't want to pay an arm and a leg on utility and gas bills. With some smart strategies, you can reduce your home's heating costs each winter. Here are some of the top ways to save money heating your house when it's cold outside.

Lower the Thermostat

One of the easiest ways to cut down on heating costs is to lower your thermostat setting. Recommended indoor temperatures for winter are around 68-70°F when home and around 55-60°F when away or sleeping. Turning the thermostat down just a few degrees makes a significant impact. You can also install a programmable thermostat to automate temperature changes. Smart technology learns your schedule for even more efficiency.

Use a Humidifier

Running a humidifier can allow you to lower the thermostat further without sacrificing comfort. The humid air makes your home feel warmer than the actual temperature reading. Cool mist and warm mist humidifiers introduce needed moisture into dry indoor air during winter. Just be sure to keep relative humidity under 50 percent to avoid mold growth issues.

Seal Air Leaks

Gaps and cracks around windows, doors, pipes and vents can leak out warm indoor air. Stopping these leaks with caulk and weatherstripping can reduce heating costs by up to 30 percent. It keeps the heat inside your home instead of letting it escape outside. Start by sealing areas that you can physically feel drafts coming in. An energy audit can help identify less obvious leaks.

Add Insulation

When heat escapes through the roof, walls or foundation, adding insulation helps trap it inside the house. The EPA recommends upgrading to insulation with an R-value above R-30 in attics and R-13 in walls. Dense packing insulation into wall cavities also minimizes air leakage. Insulation projects can provide a quick return on investment through lower energy bills.

Utilize the Sun

On sunny winter days, open all blinds, drapes and curtains to let warm sunlight in. Sunlight streaming through windows can heat up rooms naturally without turning up the thermostat. Close everything at night to reduce heat loss from cold windows. Also consider installing solar tubes to draw natural light into darker interior rooms.

Zone Your House

Heating your whole house when you're only using part of it leads to energy waste. Close doors and vents to unused rooms so you only heat the living spaces you occupy. In two-story homes, restricting air flow to upstairs rooms will cut down on heat rising through the ceiling. Programmable thermostats allow you to customize schedules and temperatures by zone.

Manage Air Vents

Make sure air supply vents are fully open in the rooms you use most often. Close vents completely in unused rooms along with the door. Opening and closing select ceiling vents redirects airflow to where you want it without overheating emptier parts of the home. Avoid completely shutting off ventilation to any room for too long though to prevent moisture buildup.

Maintain the HVAC System

Heating and cooling accounts for around half of a home's energy use. An inefficient, poorly maintained HVAC system will consume more energy and cost more to operate. Replace air filters monthly and have a technician inspect the furnace and ductwork annually. Performing regular maintenance ensures your system runs at peak efficiency.

Check Your Ductwork

Ensure that heated air can flow freely from your furnace to vent registers. Check for crushed, blocked or leaking ducts which prevent heated air from reaching your rooms. Seal joints with duct tape and insulate ductwork running through unheated spaces like attics and crawlspaces. Hire professionals to repair damaged or disconnected ducts. Optimized ductwork equals optimized efficiency.

Use Space Heaters Strategically

Portable space heaters are an affordable way to heat only occupied rooms as needed instead of the whole house. Use high-efficiency units with safety auto-shutoff features. Just be sure to turn space heaters off when leaving a room to prevent energy waste. Never leave them unattended or use extension cords with space heaters. Place them at least three feet away from combustibles.

Insulate Pipes

Insulating hot water pipes reduces unnecessary heat loss as water runs from the hot water heater through the home. It's also important for protecting pipes from freezing in exterior walls and unheated areas like garages or crawlspaces. Use pre-slit foam tubing to slip over pipes for quick insulation. Seal joints with heat-resistant tape. Insulated pipes conserve energy and allow lower thermostat settings.

Upgrade Windows

Old, leaky windows can be a major source of indoor heat loss in winter. Replacing aging windows with new energy-efficient models provides better insulation. Look for windows with low U-factors to resist heat conduction. Coating glass with low-E films helps reflect infrared heat back inside too. Storm windows are another affordable way to improve window insulation.

Cook Efficiently

Your cooking methods affect your energy bills. Using smaller appliances like slow cookers, pressure cookers, toaster ovens and convection ovens is more energy-efficient than stovetops or large ovens. Microwaving, grilling outdoors, and using lids on pots also saves energy. Avoid opening the oven door frequently while cooking so you don't lose heat. Turn on kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans only when needed.

Lower the Water Heater

Turning down your water heater to the warm setting around 120°F provides hot water while reducing home energy demands. Insulate the hot water tank to minimize standby heat loss. For additional savings, install an on-demand tankless water heating system. They heat water only as needed instead of maintaining a whole tank at high temperatures.

With some strategic adjustments before and during winter, you canstay cozy while controlling heating bills. Focus on sealing air leaks, adding insulation, upgrading equipment, and practicing energy-conscious habits around your home. Maintain your HVAC system to keep it performing efficiently through the cold months. With smart planning, you can reduce winter energy expenditures each year.