Home Heating Costs Are Rising. Here Are 4 Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills.
Simple steps can keep your bills in check during a volatile energy market
You may have noticed that your utility bills were inching up well before the Russia-Ukraine war thrust even more uncertainty into the energy market. The reason? Supply and demand. “The demand for energy-related commodities, including natural gas, has largely returned at a faster rate than production,” says Chris Higginbotham, a spokesman for the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “That has contributed to lower inventories, which has contributed to higher prices.”
The weather is also a factor. “Cold snaps in several parts of the United States brought an increase in demand that contributed to stocks going below average again,” Higginbotham says. “It’s a really complex energy environment right now.”
If the experts can’t figure it out, what are you supposed to do? Step back from the geopolitical fray and concentrate on what you can do to lessen the impact on your own budget. Getting your heating system serviced by a professional is the best place to start. “It’s important to check and maintain your energy equipment,” says Allan Drury, a spokesman for Con Edison, the primary energy provider for New York City and suburban Westchester. From there, follow these other tips from the experts.
Step 1: Seal Air Leaks
“Homeowners tend to feel drafts around windows and doors, though the biggest air leaks are typically in attics and basements,” says John Galeotafiore, who oversees CR’s testing of home products. “If you have an easily accessible attic, you can check for gaps in the areas where leaks are likely to occur—where the walls meet the attic floor, the access hatch, and around plumbing and electrical fixtures. Small gaps can be sealed with caulking or spray foam.”
Step 2: Set Your Thermostat
If you haven’t upgraded to a programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat, this might be the winter to do so; see our thermostat ratings for the best models on the market. The device will automatically lower the heat when you’re asleep or away from home. That can save you at least $50 a year or more on your energy costs, according to Energy Star, meaning that the thermostat could pay for itself in a few years, depending on which model you choose.
We tested almost 50 smart thermostats that allow you to remotely control your thermostat via your smartphone or computer. They work in various ways. Some track your temperature preferences and use that data to optimize your heating and cooling schedule. Others have multiple sensors that monitor temperatures in various parts of the home for more balanced heating or cooling. For more information, see our thermostat buying guide.
For optimal efficiency, set the temperature to 68° F or lower when you’re home and awake, and set it back to 60° F all other times, as recommended by the Department of Energy. And if you can tolerate colder temperatures, try dialing down your daytime temperature because you’ll save money on every degree you set your thermostat back.
Step 3: Check the Filters
This applies to homes with forced-air heating. If you have the system professionally serviced, filter replacement should be included. But for optimal efficiency, you need to replace the filter every few months. (Learn about the 12 filters you should be changing at home.)
First, turn off the furnace. Then remove the existing furnace filter, located just inside the furnace or return air vent. Note the furnace filter size printed on the cardboard frame. Purchase a replacement filter from a home center, hardware store, or online retailer. Check our air filter ratings for recommended models that are best at trapping dust, pollen, smoke, and other airborne particulates.
Slide the new filter into place; check for the markings that tell you which side of the filter should face the furnace. Keep a record of the date (or set a reminder on your phone or calendar) so that you’ll know when it’s time to change the furnace filter again. Replace any cover that goes over the filter.
This is also a good time to make sure the warm-air registers throughout your home aren’t blocked by furniture, because that will make the system run less efficiently, driving up your utility bills.
These steps can combine to offset at least some of the price increase in home heating fuel. And there are a few behavioral changes you can make, too, for example, opening curtains on any south-facing windows during the day to allow the sunlight to warm your home, and keeping your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning.
Step 4: Level Out Your Payments
Most utility and oil/ propane delivery companies offer the option to level out your payments, which means averaging your expenses over the course of a year. That way you aren’t getting a super high electric bill in the summer when the air conditioning is cranking or getting surprised by a huge oil delivery in the middle of winter. “Sign up for a level payment plan so your bill is the same every month,” Drury says.
If you are still having problems paying your utility bills, most utilities will work with you to make payments less painful. “If you get in trouble with your bill, call us,” Drury says. “We have programs that can help you spread the payments out.”
And some states, such as New York, have instructed its major electric and gas utilities to reach out to their customers to help them cope with the continuing surge in energy supply prices and the impact it has had on their utility bills. To see what help or information your utility can offer, check its website or call customer service.
