Living in an area that has all four seasons is beautiful and offers several advantages over living in a region of the U.S. that only has one season. From hiking in the spring and summer times, to playing in the snow during the winter, the changing seasons can bring lots of wonderful memories.

However, changing seasons also means increased heating bills during the winter months. Almost everyone asks “why is my gas bill so high” during winter as the temperature continues to drop and the thermostat is pushed up to keep the home warm. We will cover some of the best ways to lower your energy bill, including:

  1. Add weather stripping around windows & doors
  2. Change your air filters
  3. Install plastic sheeting over the inside of your windows
  4. Keep vents & radiators clear of any furniture
  5. Use a programmable thermostat
  6. Lower your thermostat settings
  7. Seal heating ducts
  8. Seal your chimney flue when not in use
  9. Keep your interior doors shut

Ever Wonder How To Save Money On Your Heating Bill?

The good news is that there are a number of things that you can do today to reduce your heating bill while still keeping your family comfortable throughout the cold winter months.

If you are suffering from the high cost of your heating bill, there is some good news. Here are 9 ways that you can save on your heating bill this year.

Let’s take a look at how to lower your gas and heating bills this winter!

1. Add Weather Stripping Around Windows & Doors

One of the many reasons that your heating bill is higher than expected is that your home could be leaking warm air through cracks and other gaps. These areas of the home are the main reason for high heating bills.

Saving home heat with simple weather stripping around your windows and doors is the easiest and least expensive ways to reduce your gas and electric bills during the winter.

If the weather stripping around your doors and windows is starting to come apart, it is a good idea to replace it with new weatherstripping sealant.

It is amazing how much heat can be lost through those tiny spaces around your windows and your doors, and that is why it is important that you check the trim located around the exterior of your doors and windows.

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2. Change Your Air Filter

It might sound too simple to be true, but having a clean air filter can make all the difference in reducing your average heating bill.

Changing dirty air filters in your HVAC system is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to save on heating costs each month. A dirty air filter can cost you a lot of money in heating costs, and this is often the cause for the most common furnace issues.

Air filters are responsible for cleaning the air in your home, and a dirty air filter can make your heating system work harder than usual to distribute warm air throughout your home. Simply changing a dirty air filter can have a big impact to lower your heat bills throughout winter.

When the weather is getting ready to turn cold it is important to make sure that you change your filters. It is also a good idea to have the system checked by an HVAC contractor in your area.

Maintenance is the key when it comes to have your heating systems last longer, and you can take the first steps to lower your heating bills by regularly changing your air filters when needed. Typically, you will need to change your air filter every 30-45 days, but you should check the filters on a regular basis to make sure they are in ideal working order.

3. Install Plastic Sheets Over The Interior Of Your Windows

Similar to a previous energy saving idea for weatherstripping around your doors and windows, you can add clear plastic layers over your windows to reduce the amount of heat that escapes from your home.

This plastic sheet will create an air pocket between your window that can save you money on heating bills throughout the winter.

There are several types of kits available that you can easily install over your windows to make sure that you are not heating up the outside. Simply apply the plastic over your windows, and when used with weatherstripping your home will be ready to reduce the average heating bill in no time!

4. Keep Vents & Radiators Clear

There are many home winterizing tips that you can use to reduce your heating bill, and most of these ideas focus on keeping air from escaping your home. Did you know it is also important to improve the layout of your home when lowering your heating bill?

You rely on a series of vents throughout your home to pump out warm air from your fireplace or central heating system. If these vents are blocked by a chair or other items then the air will not distribute around your home.

Not only will block air vents reduce the efficiency of your heating systems, but it can also cause fire hazards as obstacles can catch on fire. This is why it is important to keep vents and airways clear throughout the winter.

Make sure chairs, tables, and other items are at least 8 inches from any air vents. Having furniture and other objects clear of air vents will ensure your heating bill will remain as low as possible and reduce fire hazards in your home.

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5. Use A Programmable Thermostat

use programmable thermostat reduce heating bills winter

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A programmable thermostat can make programming easy. You can set up the thermostat to be lowered when you are not going to be at home.

These thermostats can then heat up the home right before you arrive. This can save you a lot of money on your heating costs over time.

6. Use Lower Thermostat Settings

If you lower your thermostat by one degree, you can save up to 3 percent on your heating bill in a 24 hour period.

That means more money in your pocket, and even a small change in your home’s temperature can add up quickly!

Just try putting your thermostat one degree lower on warmer days this winter, until you are comfortable with the temperature. You will be amazed at how much this simple step can really lower your heating costs each month.

The good news is that you can use this trick in addition to the other tips to improve your savings and reduce your heating bill even more during the winter months.

7. Seal Heating Ducts

Ducts tend to get small leaks over time, and these small leaks that will allow the heated air to escape. As a result, you can spend a lot of money on a heating bill as a result of inefficient heating ducts around your home.

The good news is that it is easy to fix these leaks with metallic tape. You can find this tape at any home improvement store and it is an inexpensive way to save a lot of money on your heating costs.

You can also purchase aerosol sprays that act as adhesives to help seal the ducts around your home.

8. Seal Your Chimney Flue When Not In Use

When you are not using your chimney flue, make sure that it is sealed. Keeping your chimney flue prevents warm air from escaping, and protects your fireplace from other hazards that can drop in the opening.

9. Keep Your Interior Doors Shut

If you are not using a room, why are you heating it? Make sure that you shut the doors and close the vents of the rooms that you are not using.

Your home likely has several rooms, and each room has its own door. You can reduce your energy costs by simply closing the doors of each room. Your heat bill will be reduced because your home’s heating system will not have to work as hard as it only has to warm each individual room instead of trying to warm your entire house at once.

When you are using a room, shutting the door and opening the vent can increase the temperature of the room by several degrees as the heat produced by your body temperature and any lights or electronics that are being used to help to keep the room warm.

Save Money On Your Heating Bill This Winter

So there you have it! There are 9 quick and easy ways that you can save money on your energy bill this winter. As you can see, you do not have to put a lot of time, money, or energy to lower your heating bill.

If you are asking yourself why your heating bill is so high this winter, then you should try these money-saving ideas to lower your gas or electricity bill today!

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