Does lowering the thermostat save money? Sure, but it isn’t the only way to slash your heating bill. Here are some other simple changes you can make around the house.
Insulate windows with bubble wrap. About 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through older and single-pane glass windows since they allow cold air to pass through, wasting as much as $600 per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. While installing energy-efficient, double-pane windows that block cold air can cost thousands of dollars, and applying insulating window film with tape or a hair dryer is a hassle, there’s a far easier solution: bubble wrap.
Simply cut bubble wrap to the size of the window, lightly spray the glass with water to help the plastic stick to it, then apply. The plastic bubbles act as insulation, keeping out frosty air. Have gaps on the sides or bottom of the window where drafts are coming in? Cut the bubble wrap a little bigger to block them.
Roll up towels to stop drafts. Drafts coming in from gaps around your home account for 10%–20% of heating costs. One of the biggest gaps you’ll find? The bottoms of doors leading to the outside or garage. That’s because doors tend to shrink in winter, potentially letting in chilly air.
To block drafts, roll up towels and place them at the bottoms of doors you don’t open often, such as a side door. And for doors you use daily, consider a draft stopper, which is a set of two rollers that block drafts from both sides of the door. It slips on the bottom of the door. To caulk other gaps temporarily—such as around an attic or crawl space door—try using a removable caulk that lets you seal gaps in winter, then peels off when you want to use the door again in spring.
Block hidden gusts with socket sealers. Electrical outlets and light switches are tiny parts of a room, yet they can have a big impact on your heating bill. The reason? Cold air that gets into the walls escapes through open crevices in their cover plate. Those small drafts throughout your home will add up to a large draft. Use a socket sealer, especially on exterior walls. The inserts fit between the wall and outlet or light switch plate and block small drafts.
Turn on a humidifier to feel warmer. Ever turn up the heat but still feel chilly? The problem is that low humidity in winter makes you feel colder despite the thermostat going up. That’s because water vapor is needed to hold on to warm air. Simply adding moisture to the air with a portable room humidifier—raising the humidity level to 30% or as high as 50%—will make you feel warmer and let you turn down the heat.
Get cozy. Wearing your coziest outfit under a chunky throw blanket can make a difference when it comes to lowering your heating bill. By putting on more layers, you can turn down the heat a few extra degrees and still feel comfortable. Make your favorite soup or sip a hot cup of tea to keep you warm on the inside too.
