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Heating Costs Are Up. Do This To Keep Them Down

Jonah Jacobs
3 min read

This year’s heating bill could be the highest it’s been in a decade. Unless you have the extra cash in your budget to cover that higher cost, try these tips to keep your heating expenses down once those frigid winter temperatures hit.

As if costlier gas, groceries, rent, etc., wasn’t bad enough, it looks like your utility bill will get a lot more expensive this winter. Why? Because experts from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) believe that it will cost $177 more to heat the average home this winter, which would make heating bills the highest they’ve been in a decade.

What’s driving this increase? Natural gas production issues due to pandemic shutdowns and a sweltering summer where ACs were used a lot more than usual. This has led to a 14-year high in natural gas prices, which will likely lead to an expensive winter if you’re looking to keep warm.

While you can’t do anything personally to lower the price of natural gas, you can make moves to stay warm this winter without making your utility bill skyrocket. Here are some tips to keep those heating costs down.

Don’t Pay For Heating Costs

Are we suggesting that you toss your winter utility bills in the trash? No, as that will leave you living in the dark once your lights get shut off. What we are suggesting, however, is that you get your heating costs covered by the government, which is what the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will do.

Meant to help low-income families with their utility bills, LIHEAP covers heating and cooling costs so you can save cash for other expenses. And while not having to worry about a significant chunk of your utility bill is nice, this may be even better: LIHEAP can help repair or replace your heating or cooling appliances when necessary, plus it can help weatherize your home to make it more energy efficient.

There are two ways to qualify for LIHEAP. The simplest way is to qualify automatically by already receiving assistance from the government via SSI, SNAP, TANF, etc. The other way is to qualify by making below a certain income level for your household size, which you can learn more about here.

Insulate Your Windows

A window insulation film kit can help you insulate 10 windows for less than $15. Why is this important? Because it keeps heat from escaping your windows, which lowers the temperature in your home while driving up your bill.

Besides purchasing such a kit, you can also add insulation to your windows by hanging thick curtains in front of them.

Check Your Attic And Basement

Proper window insulation is essential to staying warm and keeping your heating costs low in the winter, but don’t forget to check your attic and basement. Look for black spots on insulation, which could signify areas where air is escaping. Insulate your attic and basement properly on your own or with a professional, and you can keep costly warm air from escaping.

Stop Heating Unused Spaces

Any guest rooms or areas where people are not present probably don’t need to be heated. As such, close the vents in these areas, so you don’t waste money heating them.

Spend $30 On A Space Heater

A small space heater from your local home goods store or Amazon can be used when you need it to stay warm. It’s an affordable alternative to heating your entire house while keeping you comfortable.

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