12 Ways to Lower Your Heating Bill This Winter (Most Are Free)

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Heating is the biggest energy bill most American homes pay, and this winter some households will pay more than last year. Homes heated with electricity are forecast to spend about 4% more, and heating oil homes about 21% more, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The good news: you don't need to freeze to save money. Below are 12 proven ways to lower your heating bill, starting with the free ones, then the cheap fixes, then the bigger upgrades worth planning for.

Want to know what an average bill looks like? See How Much Does It Cost to Heat a House in Winter?

At a glance

#	Tip	Cost	Savings potential
1	Turn the thermostat down at night and when you're out	Free	High
2	Use the sun for free heat	Free	Low to medium
3	Reverse your ceiling fans	Free	Low
4	Keep vents and radiators clear	Free	Low to medium
5	Close the fireplace damper	Free	Medium
6	Lower your water heater temperature	Free	Low to medium
7	Seal drafts around windows and doors	$20 to $60	Medium to high
8	Add window insulation film	$15 to $40 per kit	Medium
9	Change your furnace filter	$10 to $40	Low to medium
10	Install a smart or programmable thermostat	$100 to $250	Medium to high
11	Add attic insulation	$500 to $3,500	High
12	Upgrade your heating system when it's time	$$$$	High

Free ways to save

1. Turn the thermostat down at night and when you're out

This is the single easiest way to save. The U.S. Department of Energy says turning your thermostat back 7 to 10°F for 8 hours a day can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling.

A simple schedule that works for most families:

Time	Temperature
Awake and at home	68°F
Asleep	60 to 62°F
Away at work	60 to 62°F
Away on vacation	55°F (never lower, protects your pipes)

Myth: "It takes more energy to warm the house back up than you save." Not true. Your home loses heat more slowly when it's cooler inside, so lowering the temperature saves energy overall.

2. Use the sun for free heat

Sunlight coming through a window is free heat.

Open curtains and blinds on south-facing windows during sunny days.
Close them at night to hold the heat in.
Thermal or insulated curtains make a real difference on old or drafty windows.

3. Reverse your ceiling fans

Warm air rises and collects near the ceiling. Most ceiling fans have a small switch on the motor housing. In winter, set the fan to spin clockwise on low speed. It gently pushes warm air back down without creating a cold breeze.

4. Keep vents and radiators clear

A couch pushed against a vent or a long curtain hanging over a radiator traps heat where you can't feel it. Move furniture and rugs at least a few inches away so warm air can circulate.

Don't close vents in unused rooms if you have a forced-air furnace. It can unbalance the system, increase pressure in your ductwork and make the furnace work harder. Closing a door to an unused room is fine.

5. Close the fireplace damper

An open damper is like leaving a window open. Your expensive warm air goes straight up the chimney. Close it whenever the fireplace isn't in use (and only once the fire is fully out and the ashes are cold).

Traditional wood fireplaces are also surprisingly inefficient: they often pull more warm air out of the house than they put in. If you love a fire, consider a fireplace insert or glass doors.

6. Lower your water heater temperature

Many water heaters come set to 140°F from the factory. 120°F is hot enough for most homes and saves energy. Water heating is one of the biggest energy uses in a home, so it's worth checking.

Tip: If you have an older tank water heater in a cold basement or garage, an insulating water heater blanket can reduce heat loss.

Cheap fixes with big payoffs

7. Seal drafts around windows and doors

Air leaks are one of the biggest causes of high heating bills. ENERGY STAR estimates that homeowners can save an average of about 15% on heating and cooling costs by sealing air leaks and adding insulation.

How to find drafts: On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick near window frames, door frames, outlets and baseboards on exterior walls. If the smoke blows sideways, you've found a leak.

How to fix them:

Caulk gaps around window frames and trim.
Weatherstripping around doors and window sashes.
Door sweeps or draft stoppers on the bottom of exterior doors.
Foam gaskets behind outlet and switch covers on exterior walls.

8. Add window insulation film

If you have old single-pane windows, clear shrink film kits are one of the cheapest upgrades around. You tape the film to the window frame and shrink it tight with a hair dryer. It's nearly invisible and creates an insulating air pocket.

9. Change your furnace filter

A clogged filter makes your furnace work harder and run longer. Check it monthly in winter and replace it every 1 to 3 months (more often with pets or allergies).

The filter size is printed on the edge of the old filter. Buying a multipack saves money and means you'll always have one ready.

Bonus: Book a yearly furnace tune-up (about $80 to $200). A clean, well-adjusted furnace runs more efficiently and is less likely to break down in a cold snap.

10. Install a smart or programmable thermostat

A smart thermostat automatically lowers the temperature while you sleep or are away, so you get the savings from Tip #1 without remembering. ENERGY STAR says certified smart thermostats can save about 8% on heating and cooling bills. Many models also show you exactly how much energy you're using.

Before you buy: Check that it's compatible with your system, and ask your utility about rebates. Many offer $50 to $100 or more off a smart thermostat.

Bigger upgrades (pay off over years)

11. Add attic insulation

Heat rises, and in many homes it goes straight out through a poorly insulated attic. A quick check: if you can see the tops of your ceiling joists, you probably need more insulation.

Option	Typical cost
DIY blown-in or batt insulation (average attic)	$500 to $1,500
Professional installation	$1,500 to $3,500+

Costs vary with attic size, insulation type and location.

Proper attic insulation also helps prevent ice dams on your roof.

12. Upgrade your heating system when it's time

If your furnace is 15 to 20 years old, it's probably far less efficient than modern models. Don't replace a working system just to save energy, but when it needs replacing, choose efficiency:

High-efficiency gas furnaces (95% AFUE or higher) turn almost all of their fuel into heat. Older furnaces may only reach 70 to 80%.
Heat pumps move heat instead of making it, so they use much less electricity than electric furnaces or baseboard heaters. Modern cold-climate models work well even in northern states.

Check for rebates first. Many utilities and states offer rebates for heat pumps, high-efficiency furnaces and insulation. Search your utility's website or ask when you request quotes.

Should you use a space heater?

A space heater can save money, if you use it to heat one room while turning the rest of the house down.

A standard 1,500-watt heater costs about 27 cents an hour at this winter's average U.S. electricity price (about 18¢/kWh). Running one for 8 hours a day costs roughly $66 a month.

Saves money: Heating a home office during the day while the thermostat is set to 62°F. Costs money: Running space heaters in several rooms while the furnace runs too.

Stay safe: Keep space heaters 3 feet from anything that can burn, plug them directly into a wall outlet, and never leave them on when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Small habits that add up

Dress warmer at home. A sweater, warm socks and slippers let you lower the thermostat 2 to 3 degrees without noticing.
Use a humidifier. Moist air feels warmer than dry air, so you may be comfortable at a lower temperature.
Use an electric blanket or mattress pad so you can turn the heat down further at night.
Bake and cook at home: your oven's heat warms the kitchen too.
Close doors to rooms you don't use.

If your bill is still too high

Ask your utility about budget billing. It spreads your costs evenly across the year so winter bills don't hit all at once.
Request a home energy audit. Many utilities offer free or low-cost audits that show exactly where your home loses heat.
Check if you qualify for help. LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helps eligible households pay heating bills, and the Weatherization Assistance Program can provide free insulation and air sealing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to lower my heating bill? Turning your thermostat down 7 to 10°F while you sleep or are away. It costs nothing, and the Department of Energy says it can save up to 10% a year.

What temperature should I keep my house at in winter to save money? About 68°F while you're home and awake, and lower while you're asleep or away. Don't go below 55°F, or you risk frozen pipes.

Does closing vents in unused rooms save money? Usually not. In homes with a forced-air furnace, closing vents can make the system less efficient. Close the room's door instead.

Is it cheaper to leave the heat on all day or turn it down? Turning it down while you're out is cheaper. Your home loses less heat when it's cooler inside, so you use less energy overall.

Do space heaters save money? Only if you use one to heat a single room while keeping the rest of the house cooler. Running several space heaters plus your furnace will raise your bill.

What's the best upgrade for lowering heating costs? For most homes, sealing air leaks and adding attic insulation give the biggest savings for the money. When your heating system needs replacing, a high-efficiency furnace or heat pump is the next big step.

The bottom line

You can cut your heating bill this winter without being cold. Start today with the free tips. Turn the thermostat down at night, use the sun, close the damper and reverse your fans. Then spend a weekend and less than $100 sealing drafts and changing your filter. Those small steps alone can make a noticeable difference on your next bill.

Getting your home ready for winter? Save our Complete Winterize Your Home Checklist.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Winter Fuels Outlook, October 2026); U.S. Department of Energy (Energy Saver); ENERGY STAR.