Winter Energy Saving Tips to Reduce Heating Costs in 2025

Understanding Winter Energy Cost Spikes

Winter typically brings the highest energy bills of the year for homeowners in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Why winter bills spike:

🔥 Heating systems work overtime when outdoor temperatures drop, with furnaces and heat pumps running constantly during cold snaps
💡 Shorter daylight hours increase lighting usage throughout your home
🏠 Holiday gatherings and indoor time drive up electricity consumption for cooking, entertainment, and household activities
⛽ Natural gas prices peak during heating season, affecting both gas heating and electricity rates

💡 Key insight: Understanding these cost drivers helps target your energy-saving efforts where they'll have maximum impact on your bills.

Thermostat Strategies That Save Money

Lowering your thermostat by just 3 to 5 degrees during sleep and away periods can reduce heating costs by 10% to 15% annually. Department of Energy recommendations:

🏠 68°F when home and awake — comfortable baseline temperature
😴 60-65°F during sleep — your body naturally needs less warmth
🚗 Lower during away periods — no need to heat an empty house

Thermostat technology options:

⏰ Programmable thermostats — automate adjustments, no daily manual changes needed
📱 Smart thermostats — learn your schedule and allow remote smartphone control

⚠️ Avoid: Constantly adjusting the thermostat. Your heating system works most efficiently maintaining steady temperatures rather than repeatedly warming a cold house.

Sealing Air Leaks to Stop Heat Loss

Air leaks around windows, doors, and openings allow heated air to escape while letting cold air infiltrate your home. Cost-effective sealing solutions:

🚪 Weatherstripping — costs under $50, saves 10-20% on heating costs
🔧 Caulk application — seal around window frames and where walls meet floors
🔌 Outlet gaskets — install behind switch plates on exterior walls
📏 Door sweeps — install if daylight is visible at the bottom of exterior doors

Check these common leak points:

🔍 Around pipes, vents, and wires entering your home
🪟 Window frames and door frames
🏠 Where walls meet floors and ceilings

💰 Best ROI: These simple, inexpensive improvements often deliver the fastest return on investment for winter energy savings.

Improving Insulation for Long-Term Savings

Adequate insulation keeps heated air inside your home and reduces the workload on your heating system. Attic insulation — highest priority:

🔺 Heat rises and escapes through poorly insulated roofs
📊 DOE recommends R-38 to R-60 for Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts climates
🔍 Quick check: If floor joists are visible in your attic, you likely need more insulation

Other insulation areas:

🧱 Wall insulation — contributes to comfort but requires professional assessment
🏠 Floor insulation — especially important over unheated spaces like crawlspaces

💡 Long-term benefit: While insulation involves upfront costs, it reduces heating bills for many years and often increases home value.

Maintaining Heating System Efficiency

A well-maintained heating system operates more efficiently and costs less to run throughout winter. DIY maintenance tasks:

🔧 Replace furnace filters monthly — clogged filters restrict airflow and force systems to work harder
🌡️ Bleed radiators in hot water systems to remove air pockets reducing heat output
❄️ Keep heat pump units clear — remove snow and ice from outdoor units

Professional maintenance:

📅 Schedule annual tune-ups — ensures proper operation and clean components
🔍 Catch problems early — before they become costly repairs

💡 Upgrade consideration: If your furnace or heat pump is more than 15 years old, modern high-efficiency systems can reduce heating costs by 20% to 30%.

Using Sunlight and Window Coverings Strategically

South-facing windows receive significant solar heat during winter days when the sun is low in the sky. Free heating strategy:

☀️ Open curtains on sunny days — capture free solar heat through south-facing windows
🌅 Close at sunset — add insulation value and retain accumulated warmth
🪟 Keep non-sunny windows covered — they lose more heat than they gain

Window covering upgrades:

🛡️ Thermal curtains — insulating backing reduces heat loss by up to 25% vs standard curtains
💨 Honeycomb blinds — air pockets provide additional insulation

💰 Zero cost: This simple habit adjustment costs nothing but can meaningfully reduce heating needs during winter.

Zone Heating and Space Heater Safety

Heating only occupied spaces rather than your entire home can reduce costs if implemented properly. Zone heating strategies:

🚪 Close vents and doors in unused rooms to concentrate heat where needed
🔥 Use space heaters strategically — warm specific areas while keeping central thermostat lower
📊 Calculate cost comparison — verify space heater electricity costs vs central heating for your usage

🚨 Space heater safety rules:

✅ Choose heaters with auto shut-off — essential safety feature
⚠️ Keep away from flammables — maintain 3-foot clearance
🚫 Never leave unattended — turn off when sleeping or leaving the room

💡 Best for: Homes where occupants spend most time in limited areas rather than using the whole house.

Daily Habits That Lower Winter Energy Bills

Small behavior changes add up to meaningful savings over the winter months — and they cost nothing to implement. Stay warm without more heat:

🧥 Dress warmly indoors — sweaters and slippers beat cranking up the thermostat
🛏️ Use extra blankets — stay comfortable with lower overnight temperatures

Capture waste heat:

🍳 Cook with the oven — adds warmth to your kitchen while preparing food
🧺 Run dryers in evening — capture waste heat while you're home
🚿 Open bathroom doors after showering — distribute warm, humid air throughout your home

Reduce water heating:

⏱️ Take shorter showers — water heating is a significant winter cost

💰 Combined impact: These free habits can reduce winter bills by 5% to 10% when implemented together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature should I set my thermostat in winter?

The Department of Energy recommends 68 degrees Fahrenheit when home and awake, dropping to 60 to 65 degrees during sleep and away periods. Each degree of reduction saves approximately 1% to 3% on heating costs. Find the lowest comfortable setting for your household and use programmable features to automate adjustments.

Do space heaters save money compared to central heating?

Space heaters can save money if you're heating only a small area while keeping central heat very low. However, electric space heaters cost more per unit of heat than gas furnaces in most areas. Calculate your specific costs based on local electricity and gas rates. Space heaters work best for supplementing central heat in frequently used rooms.

How much do air leaks cost me in winter?

Air leaks can account for 25% to 40% of heating and cooling costs in a typical home. Sealing obvious gaps around windows, doors, and other openings typically costs under $100 in materials but can save $100 to $300 or more annually depending on your home's condition and local energy prices.

Is it better to keep the thermostat constant or adjust it?

Adjusting your thermostat lower during sleep and away periods saves more money than maintaining a constant temperature. Modern heating systems efficiently warm cold spaces, and the energy saved during setback periods exceeds the extra energy needed for recovery. Programmable thermostats make these adjustments automatic and convenient.

Should I close vents in unused rooms?

Partially closing vents in unused rooms can help concentrate heat in occupied areas, but completely closing many vents can create pressure imbalances that reduce system efficiency or cause damage. Close no more than 20% to 30% of vents, and ensure your system was designed for zoning if closing vents significantly. Keep doors to unused rooms closed for best results.

About the author

Brad Gregory

Consumer Advocate

Brad moved from California to Texas in 2009 and got confused by electricity shopping—something that didn't exist where he came from. That confusion led him to build ComparePower.com. At ElectricRates.org, he's applying the same approach to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Energy plan comparisonCustomer experienceDeregulated electricity marketsEnergy shopping strategiesResidential rate comparison

Topics covered

winter-energy heating-costs energy-efficiency thermostat-tips weatherization cost-savings

Sources & References

DOE - Heating & Cooling (U.S. Department of Energy): "DOE provides comprehensive guidance on winter heating efficiency and thermostat settings"Accessed Jan 2025
ENERGY STAR - Home Sealing (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency): "ENERGY STAR provides home sealing and insulation recommendations for energy efficiency"Accessed Jan 2025

Last updated: December 10, 2025