How We Stay Warm and Lower Our Winter Electric Bill

Lower Your Winter Electric Bill

I’m so happy that cooler weather is coming!  I love the fall and winter!  Of course, I don’t like the onset of a potential higher electric bill.  So, it’s best to get a head start on holding that bill at bay.  These are some of the tips that I use during the colder months.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan Blades To Help Spread Warm Air

Locate Switch on Fan

  • Do you use your ceiling fan during the winter months? If not, you should.  First, you should reverse the blades so that they spin clockwise.  This is very simple to do.  If you stand on a ladder, and look near the blades, you will find a switch.  Just click the switch and it makes the blades move in the opposite direction. How does this help with spreading warm air?  The blades will pull cool air up and push warm air down.  This will definitely help to circulate warmer air that is coming from the heating system.

Lower Your Thermostat

Lower Your Thermostat

  • How warm do you need it in your house?  I don’t like the house too warm in the winter.  Generally people will say set it at 68F while at home or 58F when you leave.  It depends on you and how much you want to pay.  During very cold days, I keep the thermostat at 72F while home and 65F when not at home and during sleeping hours.  I have a programmable thermostat.  If you can get one, it is really useful.

Plug up those places where cold air is seeping through windows and doors.

Window:

Locate Air Coming Through Window

  • First, determine where your air is coming through by putting your hand up against the windows.  Normally, it seeps through where the lock or hinges is located.  We buy this plastic sheet from Home Depot to cover the windows.  (I know, it’s not the prettiest thing).  However, this year, I think I’m going try this new product I found online.  It’s called Rope Caulk.

Doors:

Door Stripping   Stripping On Bottom

  • We’ll be replacing the stripping around these french doors.  Air shoots through these areas.
  • Use door stops.  Think I’ll make some cute ones during the fall.  Or, just roll up some type of fabric to stop the air if replacing the stripping doesn’t completely stop that cold air.

Replace Air Filter

Replace Air Filter

  • Check the air filter for your HVAC heating/cooling system.  Replace the filter if needed.

Close Off Unused Rooms

  • Keep doors closed that aren’t used during the winter.  I have a room that we call, “The Pink Room.”  (The walls are painted a hot Disney paint).  The air never comes through completely in this room, whether it’s winter or summer.  Don’t we all have one of those rooms in the house?

Dress Warmly

Sweater for Warmth

  • Does your kids seem to dress like it’s still summer during the winter?  My kids think that only a camisole or tank top are to be worn inside the house during winter.  I’m a winter girl.  I love long sleeves!  So, grab a long sleeve shirt and a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the winter!

These are a couple of tips that should help lower that electric bill this winter.  Perhaps, we’ll have a mild winter and won’t have to run the heat too much.   What tips do you use to help keep your winter electric bill low?

Comments

  1. I really wish we had a wood-burning fireplace. A girlfriend of mines has one and she loves it. She told me that it warms the house so nicely and of course she had has a low electric bill with using wood. The coldest it got during the day here last winter was the low 50s. The nights are cold outside but we just dress warmer. It funny that the electric company’s rates increase during the hottest time of the year too.

  2. Thanks for reminding me to check our HVAC system and have the filter replaced on a regular basis. This also makes me wonder if not doing routine maintenance on our heating system might be the reason for the sudden spike in our electric bill. It might be a good idea to have it checked by professionals and see if it needs repair services.

  3. The wiring and the electricals set up of a house is something that must not go wrong at any cost. The electricians help in maintaining proper wiring at your place. There can be many mishaps possible if the wiring of the house is not right.

  4. Is a good idea I have never think about it so interesting your post, it was really helpful.

  5. This tips are really helpful warm and lower our electric bill. Thank you for sharing tips to use during the winter months.

  6. If you have good heating system in your house it won’t be a problem. There are also electrical services that can help you maintain this kind of system.

  7. Nice work!
    Regards:
    AC Installation Dubai

  8. Electrical work can be serious business, and the only way to do it properly is with a serious electrician. There are plenty of super affordable and quick electricians on the market, but when dealing with electricity, it is important to have a responsible electrician.

  9. I like your ideas,
    You know what I am looking to change my windows and doors and I guess you have provided the best solution for my problem, I am really glad that I found your blog, thanks for such wonderful sharing

  10. Open the drapes when the sun is out to warm your home during the day, and close them at night for added insulation

  11. I like your blog, thanks for sharing. I love this information you shared with us. I am waiting for your next post. Keep it up.

  12. The simplest and cheapest way to lower your heating costs is to turn down the heat. Instead of cranking up the thermostat to 72°F, keep it at a steady 68°F or below and dress for the weather. … By lowering the thermostat one single degree between 60°F and 70°F, you can save 5 percent on your heating bill.

  13. Electricians can make great adjustment advice for you in your home to assure lower expenses on your electrical bills.

  14. Thanks for your useful tips! Glad I stopped by to read your article 😉

  15. Is it OK to run air conditioner in winter?

  16. How much does it help reduce the bill?

  17. I don’t like being cold in the winter time. But I don’t’ want to have a huge electric bill. It is good to know that I should get my air filter changed. Also, could be smart for me to get my heating system serviced before the winter.

  18. Great list, as one person above mentioned, insulation, can help immensely too, but it’s not a quick fix. Double glazing is great, we have that and couldn’t do without it now!
    $50 a month is amazing. Great work.

  19. Best tips for saving electricity in Winter. Eco home is also best solution. For details visit http://smartelectricsolutions.com

  20. Cool tips for keeping your self warm in the australian winter. But how about keeping your heating and air conditioning systems up to date and in good condition. I believe that would help in lowering your bills as well.

  21. Thank you for the article! When winter is here I always use the ceiling fan. And every time I switch it on, I need about half an hour to really feel the difference. And your tip really works. It helps to pull cool air up and push down that warm air.
    And I also don’t like when it’s too hot so I usually set it at 69F.
    About the cold air that’s sometimes getting through windows, I usually use different tools that can help with this kind of problem. Even white tape will do a great job although you have to be careful 🙂

    • Hi John. Will have to check out the white tape advice. This year, I have been setting my thermostat to 68F. So, it’s comfortable and not too cold or warm for us.

  22. Insulating can cut the cost of heating and cooling by over 40%. Insulating the ceiling of a house has the potential to save 20-30% on heating and cooling bills. Heating and air conditioning units don’t have to run as hard or as long to achieve the desired  temperature in the building.

  23. With the service of design plan one can have the new dimension to its property. It gives a realistic view of the interiors added to depth and making it more absolute.

  24. To give realistic impression, the designers use furniture’s and bright colors to the building.

  25. In winter, turn your thermostat down by two degrees and wear a sweater. It will save you $180 per year on your energy bill.

    The easiest way to stop vampire electronics from driving up your electric bill is to unplug them when they’re not in use.

  26. I had no idea that you could reverse your ceiling fans to heat the house. I’m a big fan (no pun intended) of fans during the summer, but I might start using them during the winter, too. I think it’s great that they can circulate warm air coming from the heating system. Thanks for the information!

  27. I agree that the first thing you should do is figure out where the air is coming through on your window. Sometimes, the hole can be too small to otherwise notice. Notwithstanding, that one hole can make a huge difference when it comes to being energy efficient.

  28. hey there! , I enjoy your current crafting consequently a great deal of! portion many of us communicate more somewhere around your document in Yahoo? I actually have to have a specialized in this particular living space to unravel the issue IBM Power8. Maybe that’s an individual! Waiting for watch you.

  29. I recommend to install stove fueled by wood or pellet.

  30. It is a really good idea to block off the rooms that you aren’t going to be using. I mean there aren’t people in those rooms anyways so why is there warm air being blown in there instead of other places in the house that we would actually benefit from being warm.

  31. That is cool. Thanks for sharing. Maintaining a good air conditioning system is really important. It will make it lasts longer and safer and cheaper. So come and check us out for you air conditioning service needed.

  32. i am really interested in all of your tips and everything else

  33. I love to visit your blog. I always find very helpful tips for my family.
    Good Job Girl keep up the good work.

    Gizely
    http://www.frommomtomoms.com

  34. Mary Finley says

    Great advice, thanks for the information. Staying warm is key during the cold winter months! Last year the boiler in my house broke so I had to get a boiler rental to hold me over for awhile. I’m definitely going to take your advice into consideration, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

  35. All good tips to lower the heating bill & who doesn’t want to do that! Thanks for such a helpful post. I am visiting from The Fun Friday link up.
    Have a great Friday,
    Joanne

    • HI Joanne! We all definitely want to lower that winter electric bill. And, we know the higher winter bills are coming…..just trying to get a head start on preventing them from being so high.

  36. I am about too start all of the above. Especially my door, all of the stripping needs replace, by the end of the winter last year, my foyer had a chill b/c of the air flow. Yes…it is time to get busy. Thanks for the share, I did not do the fans last year…that is something I will add to my list. Living F.A.B.ulously on Purpose

    • Hi Margaret! We definitely need to replace the stripping on our door. We will have a whole lot of air coming thru if we don’t. The next break we get, we’ll be tackling that job.

  37. You must solved a huge problem for me. But it’s the opposite one. I forget which way the blades are supposed to turn and I had them set for winter all summer long. No wonder my AC is kicking on all the time! Thanks for helping me fix this. Now if someone will just remind me to turn them back when it gets cold.

    • Hi Carla! When I turn my blades in the cooler months, definitely got to have a reminder for turning them back in the hotter months. I’m sure this year you probably won’t forget to turn them back.

  38. What great ideas! I am always looking for way to help save my family money!
    Thanks for linkup today! Had so much fun co-hosting and getting to know new bloggers!
    http://thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com

  39. Yes, Sharon, my kids dress the same way. My 7 year old cranks up the fan and then grabs the biggest blanket she can find! Wish we had an older house where the vents are in the floor instead of the ceiling right next to the windows.
    Thanks for getting us ready for cooler weather and for sharing at our Blog Hop Blitz!

    • Hi Tiffany! Our vents are in the floor. The house is not that old, but somehow I think I would prefer the vents in the ceiling…maybe not next to the window, but definitely in the ceiling. Though, bills can run high during this time of year, I still love, love, love the winter.

  40. Hey Sharon,

    LOVE THIS POST! I love it because it’s clear. I love it because all these tips – I can do. I don’t have much money and don’t have money to buy a new heating system, you know what I mean? Some of the posts out there suggest you buy $500 water heaters or change your system. I know in the long run it’s money saving – but sheesh. Certainly, there are things that can be done in the short term for little to no money.

    So, thank you for this. I will be sharing.

    Also, thank you so much for linking up with us at the mommy Monday Blog Hop. I will be subscribing to any social media I don’t already subscribe to (if there are any).

    Have a beautiful week!

    • Thanks Lisa! Oh, we definitely can’t do any expensive things right now that we’ll save us money. So, I concentrate on the little things right now. Every little bit that you can save is definitely a plus. Thanks for sharing!

  41. Hi Sharon! I love this post! I love the concept of your blog too. I’m a stay at home wife and mom too and you’re right, it is nice to be able to save a buck or two. I live in Southwest Arizona so our highest electric bills are in the summer since we don’t really use heat in the winter. The coldest it got during the day here last winter was low 50s. The nights are cold outside but we just dress warmer. Funny that the electric company’s rates increase during the hottest time of the year too. Some of these are definitely things I can use for summer too. Thanks for linking up to Mommy Monday this week! I hope you’ll come back soon! 🙂

    • Hi Brittnei! 50 degrees in the winter would be fantastic here if it stayed at that temperature and didn’t drop any lower. We’re hit twice with high electric bills, the winter and summer. Perhaps, we will have a mild winter. And yes, it is funny how the rates increase during the hottest or coldest times of the year. Oh well…I keep trying new tips to keep it lower.

  42. Thanks for sharing these great tips on Creative Monday Sharon. It does get chilly in my area of Jamaica from October but you would laugh at what I call chilly!

    • You’re welcome Judy! I can imagine what a chilly temperature would be in Jamaica…. We’ll be dreaming of those kinds of temperatures in a couple of months.

  43. Sandra Goodman says

    I have a small house and we have gas heat. My bills were running betw $300 and $400 month! I bought some nice tower heaters from Sam’s club for $50 each and during the winter my automatic thermostat kicks on for half an hour. we shower and dress (warmly) and it kicks back down to 60. I turn on the room heaters which keep the main room very warm. last year my gas bill was $50 month instead of $300.

    • Hi Sandra! Wow! $50 month. That’s a dream amount for everyone during the winter. I’m impressed. I’m not at $50 but I’m striving to get there. I did buy one heater last winter and was able to keep the heat low by warming the family room (where we spend most of our time). I’ll continue to use the heater and perhaps invest in one more. Thanks for the helpful tip.

      • Sandra Goodman says

        the lasko tower I bought is great! it has a remote control and I can set it for 72 (or whatever) and when it gets 2 degrees over it kicks off and when it gets 2 degrees under it kicks back on. I love that cause then it doesn’t run continuously. I saved so much money I bought an electric fireplace heater. it’s a beautiful addition to my living room and heats the room great!

        • My mother has an electric fireplace heater and I love it. It does make the house look beautiful. I really wish we had a wood burning fireplace. A girl friend of mines has one and she loves it. She told me that it warms the house so nicely and of course she had has a low electric bill with using wood.

  44. Great tips all of which we institute, but my solution is going to be to sell this house within the next 5 years. Our gas/electric bills are getting to be too much – everything increase except our pay check – lol!

    • Hi Antionette! You are so right about everything increasing except for the check. We try to at least keep everything else at an amount that isn’t too outrageous. I would love to move myself.

  45. I know what you mean about dressing warmly. My son would strip down to his underwear and drape a blanket around himself and THEN complain about the house being cold. I warmed him up with my “stink eye” hahaha

Trackbacks

  1. […] The last week has been chilly. I’m sorry. It’s been COLD! The snow came in and so did the wind.  I’ve been working on winterizing my home for the last couple of weeks.  To really know if you’re doing things right, the cold comes and lets you know that there is still air sneaking in the house.  So, as my last step for keeping the house warm, I made these Double-Sided Door Draft Stoppers.  Love them!  They really keep the air out.  It’s not that difficult to make.  The instructions, along with pics, are below.  If you’re looking for other tips that I use for keeping the house warm, check out my post How We Stay Warm and Lower Our Electric Bill. […]

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