How to Lower Your Winter Heating Bill

Heating is the biggest chunk of most Northwest winter energy bills. Here are the changes that actually move the needle, ordered from free to bigger investments.

Free (do these today)

Set your thermostat wisely. Around 68°F when you're home, and — if you have a furnace — set it back overnight and when you're away. If you have a heat pump, pick a comfortable temperature and hold it steady instead of big setbacks. Full details in The Best Winter Thermostat Settings.

Change your air filter. A clogged filter makes your system work harder to deliver the same heat. Check monthly, replace every 1–3 months.

Use the sun. Open blinds on south-facing windows during the day to capture free solar heat, then close them at night to hold it in.

Set the fan to "Auto." Running it on "On" circulates unheated air between cycles and can make rooms feel cooler.

Reverse your ceiling fans. Run them clockwise on low to push warm air that's collected near the ceiling back down.

Low cost

Seal drafts. Weatherstripping around doors and windows and caulk around gaps stops warm air from leaking out. Cheap materials, real payback.

Add or top up insulation. Attic insulation is one of the best returns in an older home — heat rises and escapes there first. Many PNW homes are under-insulated.

Insulate outlets and switch plates on exterior walls with inexpensive foam gaskets.

Get a maintenance tune-up. A system running at full efficiency uses less energy. A tune-up also catches problems before they become expensive. (See What's Included in a Tune-Up?)

Bigger investments that pay off

Upgrade to a smart thermostat. It automates efficient settings so you actually capture the savings. (See Is a Smart Thermostat Worth It?)

Replace an aging, inefficient system. If your furnace is 15–20+ years old, a modern high-efficiency furnace or a heat pump can cut heating costs meaningfully — and a heat pump adds summer cooling.

Switch from electric resistance heat to a heat pump. If you heat with electric baseboard or an electric furnace, a heat pump is dramatically more efficient and often the single biggest bill-reducer available to you.

Don't forget the rebates

Efficiency upgrades and heat pump installations can qualify for PSE instant rebates and a federal tax credit, which shrink the payback period considerably. We handle the rebate paperwork — see PSE Rebates Explained.

The bottom line

Start with the free habits and a fresh filter, seal and insulate next, and — if your system is old and inefficient — know that replacing it is often where the real savings live, especially with today's rebates.

Want help finding the biggest savings for your home? Contact us or call (360) 825-0800.