CHICAGO-WEST Blog

The Best Ways to Save Money on Your Heating Bill

Feel that chill in the air? If you live in the Midwest, you know drill – winter is coming. 

Whether you love or loathe the snowy season, a skyrocketing gas bill is definitely one of the most depressing parts of winter. But can you really make changes that results in a noticeable difference on your heating bill? The answer is undoubtedly, yes! 

Here are six easy ways to get that heating bill headed in the right direction...down! 

1. Invest in a Smart Thermostat

Thermostats have come a long way over the past several years. Gone are the days of tearing yourself out of bed after forgetting to turn down the heat for the night, never mind trying to get that finicky dial to rest on your desired temperature. 

Installing a smart thermostat, such as a Nest or Ecobee, can cut your heating bill by 10%. These wifi-enabled gadgets can be controlled from your smartphone, which means you can turn down the heat in your house even if you’re not there. They even monitor your daily habits to learn when to turn the temperature down and when to crank it up.

What a time to be alive, right? 

2. Check Your Doors and Windows

Drafty doors and leaky windows may feel minor, but all those little air leaks add up to major money going, quite literally, out the window.

Take it from someone who lives in the Windy City, feeling a winter breeze swirl through your living room is more than a chilly inconvenience. It costs you big bucks on your heating bill too. But cold noses and toes rejoice, the fix is simple!  

Start by taking a look at your doors. Hold a lit match or candle and slowly follow the outline of your doors. If you see the flame flicker, you’ve got a draft. 

If you have a gap under your door, install a door sweep for a cheap and easy fix. While new homes usually have solid seals around the doors, it's not uncommon for older homes to need fresh weather stripping installed to seal up gaps. 

Remember – even your window and door leaks seems minor, they all add up and will impact your heating bill. For a low investment, and a couple of hours of work, you can make an impact and see quick savings. 

3. Keep Your Doors and Vents Open

Take a mental inventory of your house and think about all the rooms that you use infrequently. Do you have storage rooms? Maybe a guest room that’s only used occasionally? Or, if you’re like me, a workout room that’s home to a dusty treadmill? 

Your first instinct might be to close the doors and vents in those rooms to avoid heating areas you don’t need to keep comfortably warm. But, this “fix” may actually cause your heating bill to increase. 

Why? Because it messes with the air pressure in your house, making your furnace work harder. While it seems counterintuitive, keeping all your interior doors and vents open will let your furnace run efficiently, putting more money in your pocket each month. 

4. Hang Winter Curtains

Here in Chicago, we have a ritual each Fall. When the extended forecast is void of temperatures above 40 degrees, I do the winter swap out. 

Shorts and dresses are stored away, and fleece-lined leggings and cozy pullovers are put in their place. Sandals are exchanged for winter boots, and the heated blankets are pulled from storage. 

And, finally, I switch out our light-filtering summer curtains for a heavier set. I don’t do this in every room, but do swap out the drapes in the main living spaces and bedrooms.

The options for curtains that keep heat in and cold out are endless. You can purchase insulated or thermal curtains, designed especially for winter, but my top pick are heavy, velvet curtains. They’re like a hug for your window, add instant cozy vibes to your home and help keep warm air in and cold air out. 

5. Use a Space Heater

No, you shouldn’t use space heaters as your energy source this winter. However – if you need to keep just one room extra warm and comfortable, this is an excellent option. 

If you’re like me, and work from home, you don’t get the benefit of turning your thermostat down while you’re at work all day. And if you’re like me, you’re freezing cold from October through April. 

Instead of keeping the thermostat cranked and heating the entire house all day long, I run a small space heater in my office. It keeps my fingers, toes and nose toasty, and I’m not hit with an eye-popping energy bill. 

6. Get an Insulation Evaluation

Hands down, the best way to lower your heating bill is to make sure your home is properly insulated. Are you wondering exactly how much can you save by installing new insulation? 

How does slashing your heating bill by 30% sound? We’ve even had customers with older homes whose bill has been cut in half after installing foam insulation.

You might be surprised that even newer homes can benefit from new insulation. If your home is just 10 years old, the advances in insulation installation could save you major dough, especially in climates like ours in the Chicago suburbs. 

Scheduling an evaluation is a no-brainer, and if your home needs new insulation, the team at Koala will schedule an installation in a snap. From affordable batt insulation options to blow-in insulation, we’ll find the solution that’ll get you immediate savings on your heating bill and feel warm and toasty too! 

We hope you found these tips helpful and feel ready to stop your rising heating bill in its tracks!

Until next time! The Team at Koala Insulation