Winter heating bills are heading up again, and the time to do something about them is before the cold settles in, not after the first big bill arrives. The U.S. Energy Information Administration's October 2026 Winter Fuels Outlook puts this winter's heating costs at anywhere from $640 for natural gas to $2,115 for heating oil, and energy-assistance directors project the average household will pay about $1,030 for the season, roughly $82 more than last winter. The good news is that the cheapest savings are also the simplest.
Start with the thermostat, because it costs nothing to change. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting it to 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you are awake and at home, and setting it back while you sleep or are away. Turning it back 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling, and every degree you give up for eight hours trims roughly another 1 percent off the heating bill. A sweater is cheaper than a degree.
Two details matter here. If your home is heated by a heat pump, do not set the thermostat back sharply by hand, because a big jump in the morning can trigger the backup electric resistance heat, which costs far more than the heat pump itself. Use a smart or programmable thermostat designed for heat pumps, or keep adjustments to two or three degrees. And check the water heater: the Department of Energy says every 10 degrees you lower it saves 3 to 5 percent on water-heating energy, so 120 degrees is a sensible setting for most households.
Next, stop paying to heat the outdoors. Drafts around doors and windows, gaps where pipes and wires enter the house, and an unsealed attic hatch are the usual suspects, and weatherstripping, caulk, and door sweeps are cheap fixes that pay for themselves in a single season. Window film, heavy curtains, and closing the fireplace damper when the fire is out all help. A clean furnace filter matters too: a clogged filter makes the system work harder for the same heat.
Outside, the prep is about preventing damage rather than saving money. Clean the gutters so melting snow drains instead of pooling at the roofline, trim branches that hang over the roof, and insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces like basements and garages. If you leave the house empty in cold weather, the American Red Cross recommends leaving the heat on at no lower than 55 degrees, because a burst pipe costs far more than the heat you saved.
If money is tight, help exists. The Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program provides no-cost weatherization, including insulation, air sealing, and heating-system fixes, to eligible low-income households, and many utilities offer free energy audits and rebates for insulation and smart thermostats. Winter is coming either way. A weekend of prep now is the difference between a bill you expected and a bill that surprises you.
Do not forget the parts of the house you never see. Attic insulation is one of the best returns on a winter investment, because heat rises and an under-insulated attic lets it escape straight through the roof. A basement or crawl space that is cold and drafty will chill the floors above it, and sealing and insulating the rim joists where the house meets the foundation is a weekend job that pays back for years. If your home has single-pane windows, storm windows or heavy curtains are a cheaper middle step than full replacement.
Finally, look after the heating system itself. Have the furnace or boiler serviced before the cold arrives, change the filter, and test the carbon monoxide detectors while you are at it, because a system that burns fuel should never run with a dead alarm. Check that every radiator and vent is open and unblocked by furniture or curtains. A heating system that has been looked after runs quietly, cheaply, and safely all winter, and the one that has not tends to announce itself at the worst possible moment.
Source: PennyPath
