Families who heat with oil are in for the biggest increase this winter. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts that households that rely on heating oil will spend about 21 percent more than last winter, roughly $2,115 on average from November through March, because global distillate supplies are tight.
The news is better for most other homes. EIA expects households heating mainly with natural gas to spend about 9 percent less, around $640 for the season. Propane homes should see a 3 percent drop. Together, gas and propane heat about half of American homes. Homes that heat with electricity are looking at about 4 percent more, near $1,196, with the largest increase in the West, where a colder winter is expected.
Whatever fuel you burn, keeping heat inside the house lowers the bill. Here is what the Department of Energy’s Energy Saver guide recommends.
Turn the thermostat back at night
DOE says you can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by turning the thermostat down 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day, such as while you sleep or are at work. When you are home and awake, it suggests starting around 68 to 70 degrees and adjusting from there.
A programmable or smart thermostat makes this automatic and warms the house back up before you get out of bed. If you have a heat pump, DOE says not to do this without a smart or programmable thermostat designed for heat pumps.
Seal the leaks
DOE calls air leaks among the greatest sources of energy loss in a home and says sealing them can save 10 to 20 percent on heating and cooling bills. Check around windows, doors, outlets, light fixtures, attic hatches and spots where pipes and wires come through walls.
On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick near those spots. If the smoke blows sideways, you have found a leak. Then weatherstrip doors and windows, caulk small gaps, use foam sealant on larger ones and put foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on outside walls. Make sure your fireplace damper closes tightly, or use an inflatable chimney balloon when the fireplace is not in use.
Help the furnace do its job
Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or as the manufacturer recommends. Keep registers, baseboard heaters and radiators clear of furniture, rugs and drapes.
Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day to let the sun in, and close them at night to block the chill from cold glass.
Don’t forget the water heater
Water heating is the second largest energy expense in most homes, about 18 percent of energy use, according to DOE. Set the water heater to 120 degrees, a temperature DOE calls safe for most people. If the tank feels warm to the touch, an insulating blanket can save 7 to 16 percent a year on water heating, and insulating the hot water pipes can save another 3 to 4 percent. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Start with an afternoon
Most of these jobs are simple do-it-yourself work. A tube of caulk, a roll of weatherstripping and a new furnace filter are a good place to start this weekend. If you heat with oil or propane, EIA notes that many households buy supplies ahead of winter, so it is worth calling your supplier now about prices before the coldest weeks arrive.