Save on Heating Bills With These 9 Simple Tricks—Stay Warm and Spend Less!
From curtain tricks to ceiling fan secrets, these easy hacks keep you warm and save money all winter long
When winter’s chill sets in and heating bills start climbing, staying warm at home can feel like an expensive challenge. But what if you could keep every room cozy and comfortable without watching your energy costs skyrocket? The good news: You absolutely can!
From clever curtain tricks to surprising ceiling fan secrets, these strategies help you save on heating bills—without spending a fortune. Best of all? Most take just minutes to implement and use items you already have on hand.
Tap ‘solar power’ with curtains
Simply closing your drapes at night can cut heat loss by up to 25 percent, helping keep your home warmer and reducing energy bills. Just be sure to open them when it’s sunny—the sun’s rays can naturally increase a room’s temperature by about 3 to 5 degrees on a clear winter day, promises Jeri Goodkin Dause, licensed general contractor and CEO of SBCFL.com.
Boost warmth by opening a door—yes, really!
After a nice hot shower, leave the bathroom door open for 10 to 15 minutes so the warm air drifts into nearby rooms. Moist air holds heat better than dry air, so rooms with slightly higher humidity feel warmer at the same thermostat setting. Also smart? Hang a wet towel in the bathroom; as the water evaporates, it humidifies the air, helping maintain moisture levels.
Get cozy for pennies with a tea kettle
We feel warmer when the air is more humid. “One of my favorite ways to increase humidity is to leave a kettle on the stove,” says Randy Huckstadt, HVAC expert for JustAnswer.com. “The steam raises both indoor temperature and humidity.” The same goes for leaving the bathroom door open after you shower and opening the dishwasher to let the dishes air dry.
Stop sneaky heat leaks by plugging outlets
A poorly insulated wall outlet can let in so much cold air that it’s like having a 4-inch hole in the wall. “Use your hand to feel for cold spots near windows or doors, or hold a lit candle a few inches in front of the outlet and see if the flame flickers,” says Li Ling Young, lead engineering consultant for Efficiency Vermont. If it does, install removable socket sealers—like Duck Brand Socket Sealers (available on Amazon)—that fit snugly behind the outlet.
Save hundreds each year with this thermostat trick
For every degree you turn down your thermostat, you can save up to 3 percent per hour. If your house will be empty while you’re at work, for example, going 8–10 degrees cooler is ideal. Just avoid going below 60°F to prevent the potential of frozen pipes.
Plug up fireplaces with a blanket
We love to curl up by a roaring fire this time of year, but when it’s not in use, the fireplace can cause a room to lose a whopping 20 percent of its heat, says Michelle Nelson, host of the podcast Build Your House University. The simple solution? Consider buying a fireplace blanket, which is designed to attach to the opening of the fireplace. While you can find magnetic versions for about $20 in stores, it’s perfectly effective—and less expensive—to simply tape an extra throw blanket over the opening of the fireplace.
Nix sneaky drafts by checking under the sink
Sure, you know that windows and doors can be drafty, but heat can also escape from under your kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets, says Allison A. Bailes III, Ph.D. (EnergyVanguard.com). “They typically lead to uninsulated areas, such as the basement or a crawlspace, where cold air can come through.” If you discover a gap around pipes, just fill it in with expanding foam
Warm the room by reversing your fan
Your ceiling fan isn’t just for summer! Look for the tiny switch on the base of the fan and flip it so the blades spin clockwise, then run it on the lowest setting. Warm air rises—so reversing the fan circulates all that trapped heat, bringing it down where you need it most.
Block cold air with this simple sock trick
“If you have gaps underneath your doors, you could be letting precious heat escape and cold air seep in,” says Wouter Heuterman, home heating expert and CEO at SpeedComfort.com. The do-it-yourself solution he recommends: Cut an old pair of tights and stuff them with socks, rice or lentils and place them against the bottom of the door to create an instant seal.
With these simple strategies in your winter toolkit, you’ll stay cozy, comfortable, and keep more money in your pocket all season long.
A version of this story first appeared in the February 23, 2026, print issue of Woman’s World magazine.
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