October 01, 2017

5 Ways to Cut Your Winter Heating Costs by 25%

Winter heating bills can increase by 25% or more during cold months. This guide shows you five proven strategies to reduce your winter energy consumption by up to 25% while staying comfortable.

How Do I Stop Drafts From Increasing My Heating Bill?

Air leaks account for 25-30% of heating and cooling costs in most homes. Drafts most commonly occur around door frames, window edges, and exterior wall penetrations.

Install door sweeps on exterior doors to block gaps at the bottom. Apply weatherstripping around door and window frames where you feel air movement. Use caulk to seal stationary cracks and gaps. These materials cost $20-50 total and can reduce heating costs by 10-15% annually.

What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat in Winter?

The EPA recommends setting your thermostat to 68°F while you're home and awake. You can lower this to 65°F or even 62°F by wearing appropriate clothing layers indoors.

What Should I Wear Inside During Winter?

Layer your clothing with a base layer (t-shirt or thermal underwear), mid-layer (sweatshirt or fleece), and outer layer (hoodie or cardigan). Add sweatpants or loungewear bottoms. Use blankets while sitting or resting.

Each degree you lower your thermostat saves approximately 3% on heating costs. Dropping from 68°F to 65°F can save 9% on your heating bill.

Do Ceiling Fans Help With Heating in Winter?

Yes, ceiling fans help distribute warm air in winter when run in reverse (clockwise) on low speed. Warm air naturally rises to the ceiling. Running fans clockwise pushes this warm air down along the walls and back into the living space, potentially raising perceived room temperature by 3-5°F.

Look for a small switch on your ceiling fan motor housing to reverse the direction. Run fans on the lowest setting to avoid creating a cooling breeze.

Should I Open or Close Blinds in Winter?

Open south-facing blinds during daylight hours when direct sunlight hits your windows. Solar heat gain can warm a room by several degrees at no cost. Close all blinds at sunset and on cloudy days to add an insulation layer that reduces heat loss through windows.

Window treatments with cellular or thermal backing provide the best insulation value when closed.

Professional Winter Heating Solutions

These five strategies can reduce your winter heating costs by 20-25% when implemented together. For additional energy-saving solutions or if your heating system isn't performing efficiently, consult with HVAC professionals who can assess your system's efficiency and recommend upgrades.

Professional heating system diagnostics can identify equipment issues causing higher energy bills. Airview A/C provides heating system evaluations and energy-efficient heating solutions.