17 ways to stay warm (and stop wasting energy)
By Jordana Weiss•Last updated Oct 3, 2023
Last updated Oct 3, 2023
Table of Contents
- 1. Close the door when you leave a room
- 2. Cover your bare floors
- 3. Reverse the ceiling fans
- 4. Use a smart thermostat and turn it down at night
- 5. Leave the curtains open
- 6. Close your fireplace damper
- 7. Move objects away from vents
- 8. Put your lights on a timer — especially holiday lights
- 9. Change your furniture’s fabric
- 10. Service your heating system
- 11. Grab your caulk and weatherstripping
- 12. Add insulation to areas that need it
- 13. Seal your ducts
- 14. Reduce drafts with double-pane or storm windows
- 15. Replace missing shingles and fix cracks in your roof
- 16. Consider upgrading major appliances
- 17. Consult a professional
Find local pros for your project
Search for pros
Whether you live in a house, townhome, condo, or apartment, energy costs will always be a concern. This is especially true during the fall and winter months. If your home isn’t energy-efficient, warm air can easily escape when you heat up your home — and your heating system may be working too hard. In other words, you could be paying more money for a less comfortable living space.
Fortunately, there are plenty of energy-saving tips for winter and fall you can use. Check out these 17 home project ideas and tips to help you stay warm and save energy during the colder months.
1. Close the door when you leave a room
Don’t pay to heat rooms you’re not using. When you leave a room — especially when you go upstairs or downstairs — close the door. This helps keep heat concentrated in the main living areas.
2. Cover your bare floors
Before you turn up the heat, try adding floor coverings such as rugs, mats, or carpets to make your home feel warmer. Even if you love the look of your flooring, most wood or laminate floors can feel cold on bare or socked feet in winter.
3. Reverse the ceiling fans
Here’s a quick way to stay warm without increasing your heating bill: change your ceiling fan’s settings.
In winter, set your fan to run clockwise. This pulls cool air upward and pushes warm air down from the ceiling. When the weather warms up again, switch it back to counterclockwise to circulate cooler air.
4. Use a smart thermostat and turn it down at night
Instead of manually changing the temperature every time you’re too warm or too cold, invest in a programmable thermostat for fall and winter.
By programming your home heating according to the latest industry best practices, such as turning your heat down at night, you can save up to 10% a year on your annual energy bill. That’s a substantial cost savings, and it’s easier to manage your heat when you don’t have to think about it all the time.
5. Leave the curtains open
The timing of when you cover your windows can also make a big difference. In winter, leave your windows uncovered during the day to capture the sun’s warmth. In the evening, cover your windows to keep warm air inside.
Pro tip: Curtains that are insulated or made from a heavier material, like velvet, can help keep warm air in and cold air out.
6. Close your fireplace damper
Did you know that when your fireplace is not in use, it could actually make your house colder?
To keep warm air in your home, shut your fireplace damper when you’re not using it. When there’s a fire lit, keep the damper open so smoke can escape. But the rest of the time, an open damper is just a way for warm air to get out.
7. Move objects away from vents
Take a look at the vents in every room. Is your couch or bookcase blocking them? What about your curtains or drapes?
If so, these objects could be making it harder for your heating system to warm your home. And if your furnace is working harder, you could face higher energy bills this season.
8. Put your lights on a timer — especially holiday lights
Avoid unexpected charges on your electricity bill by turning off the lights when you’re on vacation, out on the town, or sleeping. Consider installing a smart home lighting system and putting your lights on a timer.
And don’t forget your holiday lights — Christmas tree lights, string lights on your home’s exterior, decorations on your lawn, and more.
9. Change your furniture’s fabric
Cozying up with warm blankets and quilts is an obvious way to stay warm at home without increasing your energy usage. But have you thought about changing the fabric on your couch or living room chairs, too? Consider materials that tend to feel warmer and cozier, like chenille, velvet, or wool.
If you’ve been thinking about new furniture, reupholstering what you already have may be an easier, more cost-effective option. Talk to a reupholstery service near you to see how much it will cost.
10. Service your heating system
When was the last time you changed your furnace filters or cleaned your wood-burning heater? Maintaining your heating system is crucial if you want to stay warm, avoid high heating bills, and prevent costly repairs down the line.
If you haven’t already, schedule an appointment before freezing weather arrives and before local pros are all booked up.
11. Grab your caulk and weatherstripping
One of the most important things you can do to reduce energy loss in your home is to seal any leaks or cracks. Even a minor hairline fracture in a doorway or windowsill can let air escape — and with it, your hard-earned money.
For an easy DIY fix, fill cracks and gaps with caulk. If there’s existing caulk around the leak, scrape it away and apply a fresh coat to prevent air from exiting your home.
If caulk isn’t the right fix, use weatherstripping. Made from plastic, foam, rubber, metal, or felt, this product sits in the gap between a door or window and the sill or wall.
Pro tip: According to the Department of Energy, use caulk when sealing gaps, cracks, and holes in stationary components. Use weatherstripping when sealing leaks around movable building components.
12. Add insulation to areas that need it
If your home isn’t adequately insulated, it’s easy for heated air to escape. This raises your energy bill and means your furnace, heat pump, and other appliances must work harder just to keep your home comfortable.
Adding insulation makes it easier to regulate the temperature of your living space. It stabilizes the temperature by helping prevent air from leaking into areas that don’t need temperature control. You may insulate your attic, garage, water heater, and even your pipes.
You can do this yourself if you’re comfortable. But it’s usually smarter to hire an insulation contractor who can evaluate where it’s needed and install it safely.
13. Seal your ducts
If your home uses a duct system, checking how the ducts are connected could significantly affect your home’s coziness this winter.
Some duct systems are not insulated or sealed correctly, which can lead to a considerable amount of heated air leaking out before it reaches your living space. Insulating or sealing your ducts can help prevent this costly issue.
You’ll need a product called duct mastic, which you can also search for as mastic sealant or metal tape. It’s great for sealing ducts and is easy to find at most hardware stores. Do not use duct tape.
If you can’t find any visibly leaking joints or the fix feels too overwhelming, you can call in a professional air duct service.
14. Reduce drafts with double-pane or storm windows
A house with a lot of natural light and sun exposure can bring much-needed heat and light into your living space. This is a huge benefit, especially during long, dark winter days. However, poorly made or old windows can let warm air escape, forcing your heating system to work overtime.
You can reduce drafts and make your home much cozier by switching to double-paned or storm windows. These types of windows, skylights, and glass doors are stronger and more energy-efficient.
You can even install a protective window covering called low-e film, which helps keep heat from radiating out of the house.
15. Replace missing shingles and fix cracks in your roof
Even the tiniest crack in your roof can be a channel for warm air to escape. Regularly inspecting your roof can help prevent these cracks from developing.
At least once a year, find a safe way to get on your roof — or hire a roofer — and look for missing shingles, gaps, or cracks. If you find any of these issues, deal with them right away. There’s nothing sneakier than heat escaping through your roof during a cold winter.
16. Consider upgrading major appliances
How long have you had your appliances? If your washer/dryer, water heater, HVAC system, dishwasher, or another appliance has exceeded its lifespan, consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient model.
Or have a pro inspect your appliances and energy usage. They may find that your current models are working overtime — and costing you more money than you expected. You can hire an appliance technician or a home energy audit service to help you make the best decision.
17. Consult a professional
If you’re worried that your home has too many weatherization issues to handle on your own, call in the professionals.
A weatherproofing pro has expertise in getting homes ready for colder weather and can do a top-to-bottom inspection to help ensure your home is as energy-efficient as possible. It’ll be easier to heat your home in winter and keep it cozy even as the snow falls outside.
How it works.
Search.
Browse profiles, see prices and use filters to find pros who match your project.
Chat.
Contact the pros you like to discuss project details.
Hire.
Check pro availability and book appointments right in the app.
Find local pros for your project
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll show you pros right for the job, with prices.