The fastest way to save on heating is to stop paying to warm air you don’t need: lower the thermostat when you’re asleep or away, seal the drafts that let warm air escape, and keep your heating system running efficiently. None of that requires a big renovation. Below are 15 practical tips, roughly in order from free to “worth a weekend,” with the math shown so you can judge what is worth doing in your home.
Quick answer: the tips at a glance
| Tip | Upfront cost | Typical impact |
|---|---|---|
| Set the thermostat back 7–10°F for 8 hours a day | Free | Up to ~10% of heating and cooling costs (DOE) |
| Seal drafts with weatherstripping and caulk | $20–$100 | Noticeable in older, leaky homes |
| Replace or clean the furnace/heat pump filter | $5–$40 | Keeps the system from working harder than it should |
| Use curtains and the sun to your advantage | Free–$50 | Small but steady |
| Heat one room with a space heater instead of the whole house | $30–$80 | Only saves if the rest of the house is turned down |
| Add attic insulation | Hundreds to low thousands | Often one of the biggest long-term savers |
Savings vary by climate, home and rates, so treat any percentage as a starting point, not a promise.
What heating costs right now
Before choosing tips, it helps to know what you’re paying for. According to the U.S. EIA, the average US residential electricity price was a little over 18 cents per kWh in mid-2026, and EIA’s September 2026 outlook projects about 18.2 cents for the year. Residential natural gas averaged about $15.34 per thousand cubic feet in 2025 per EIA data, which works out to roughly $1.35–$1.50 per therm (one thousand cubic feet holds a little over 10 therms). Winter-month gas prices per unit are often lower than summer ones, because fixed delivery charges are spread over more gas.
Your own rates can be far higher or lower, so check your bill. Our guide on how to read your electric bill shows where to find your real price per kWh.
Free tips you can do today
1. Turn the thermostat down when you’re asleep or away
The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7–10°F from its normal setting for 8 hours a day. A common pattern is around 68°F (20°C) while you’re home and awake, and lower while you sleep or are at work.
- Myth: “The furnace works harder to reheat the house, so you don’t save.” A cooler house loses heat more slowly, so a setback almost always uses less energy overall.
- Exception: with a heat pump, big setbacks can trigger backup electric resistance heat during recovery. Use smaller setbacks or a thermostat designed for heat pumps.
2. Put on a sweater before you touch the dial
Every degree you can comfortably drop saves a bit. Warm socks, a throw blanket on the couch and flannel sheets make 66–67°F feel very different.
3. Open curtains on sunny days, close them at night
South-facing windows can bring in free heat on clear winter days. After sunset, closed curtains (especially lined or thermal ones) reduce heat loss through the glass.
4. Don’t block vents or radiators
Furniture or long drapes over supply vents trap heat where it does no good. Keep a few inches of clearance.
5. Close the fireplace damper when there’s no fire
An open damper is essentially an open window up the chimney. If you rarely use the fireplace, a chimney balloon or a fitted cover helps even more.
6. Run the ceiling fan in reverse on low
In winter, many ceiling fans have a switch to spin clockwise, gently pushing warm air down from the ceiling. This matters most in rooms with high ceilings.
Low-cost fixes (under $100)
7. Seal drafts around doors and windows
Hold a lit incense stick or a strip of tissue near door frames, window edges and outlets on outside walls on a windy day. Wherever it flickers, add:
- Weatherstripping on door and window frames
- Door sweeps at the bottom of exterior doors
- Caulk around stationary window trim
- Foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls
This is often the best return per dollar in older homes.
8. Change your furnace or heat pump filter
A clogged filter restricts airflow, making the system run longer. Check it monthly during heating season and replace it when it looks dirty (often every 1–3 months).
9. Use window insulation film
Clear shrink film kits cost a few dollars per window and create an insulating air gap. They’re a good renter-friendly option for single-pane or drafty windows.
10. Lower your water heater to 120°F
Water heating isn’t space heating, but it’s often the second-biggest energy use in winter. Many water heaters ship set at 140°F; 120°F (49°C) is typically enough for most households and reduces standby losses.
11. Use a space heater the smart way
A space heater only saves money if you turn the rest of the house down. Here’s the math at 18 cents per kWh:
- A 1,500 W heater × 5 hours × $0.18/kWh = $1.35 per day, or about $41 per month.
If that lets you set the central thermostat several degrees lower for the whole house, you can come out ahead. If you run it on top of normal heating, it just adds to your bill. Choose a model with tip-over and overheat shutoff, keep it three feet from anything that can burn, and plug it straight into the wall, not an extension cord.
Bigger-ticket improvements
12. Get your heating system serviced
A tune-up checks burners, the heat exchanger, refrigerant levels (for heat pumps) and airflow. A well-maintained system tends to run closer to its rated efficiency and gives you early warning of problems.
13. Seal and insulate ducts in unheated spaces
Ducts running through an attic, crawl space or garage can leak heated air before it reaches your rooms. Sealing joints with mastic or foil tape (not ordinary cloth duct tape) and insulating those runs keeps more heat inside.
14. Top up your attic insulation
Heat rises, and an under-insulated attic is one of the most common reasons homes feel expensive to heat. If you can see the tops of the ceiling joists, you probably have room for more. Our guide to home insulation and where to start walks through priorities.
15. Consider a smart or programmable thermostat
If you forget to adjust the thermostat, automation makes tip #1 happen every day. ENERGY STAR estimates certified smart thermostats save about 8% of heating and cooling bills, or roughly $50 a year on average. See our full breakdown of smart thermostat savings.
A quick worked example
Say your home uses 600 therms of natural gas over a winter for heating at $1.40 per therm:
- 600 therms × $1.40 = $840 for the season.
- If thermostat setbacks trim heating use by 8%: 600 × 0.08 = 48 therms × $1.40 = about $67 saved.
- If draft sealing and filter changes trim another 5% of what’s left: 552 × 0.05 = 27.6 therms × $1.40 = about $39 more.
That’s roughly $100 for the season from mostly free or cheap steps. Homes that are very drafty or heated by electric resistance can see larger dollar savings, because each unit of heat costs more.
A note on tax credits
The federal 25C energy-efficiency home improvement credit (which covered things like insulation, windows and heat pumps) and the 25D residential clean energy credit ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025, under the 2025 federal budget law. You can’t claim those credits for work done in 2026. Many utilities and some states still offer rebates for insulation, air sealing and heat pumps, so check your utility’s website and your state energy office before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I set my thermostat to in winter?
Around 68°F (20°C) while you’re home and awake is a common starting point, with a lower setting while you sleep or are away. The right number depends on your comfort, health needs and household.
Is it cheaper to leave the heat on all day?
Usually no. A cooler house loses heat more slowly, so lowering the temperature while you’re out typically saves energy. The main exception is heat pumps with backup strip heat, where large setbacks can backfire.
Do space heaters save money?
Only if you use one to heat a single room while turning the rest of the house down. A 1,500 W heater costs about $0.27 per hour at 18 cents per kWh.
Should I close vents in unused rooms?
Closing a few vents is generally fine, but closing many can raise pressure in forced-air systems and reduce efficiency. Lowering the thermostat and closing doors is usually the safer move.
What is the single most effective upgrade?
For many homes, air sealing plus attic insulation delivers the largest long-term savings, but it depends on your house. A home energy audit can pinpoint where heat is escaping.
The bottom line
Saving on heating is mostly about heating less air, for fewer hours, with less waste. Start with the free habits (thermostat setbacks, curtains, closing the damper), spend a little on weatherstripping and filters, then look at insulation or a smarter thermostat if your bills are still high. Savings vary by climate, home and rates, but a few small changes stacked together can take a real bite out of your winter bill.
Figures in this guide are estimates based on typical US prices at the time of writing. Savings vary by home, climate and utility rates — check your own bill before making a purchase.
