4 Tips To Minimize Your Heating Costs This Winter

Why Are Heating Costs Increasing?

You’ve probably noticed that the cost of everything seems to be going up, and heating costs are no exception. Why will it cost more cash to heat your home this winter? You can blame some of it on the pandemic, which caused shutdowns that led to production problems with natural gas. But you can also blame it on a scorching hot summer that caused many people to use their ACs a lot, as those efforts to keep cool drove up natural gas prices to their highest point in 14 years.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates that the average home will cost $1,202 to heat this winter. That’s a $177 increase that could make your heating bills the highest they’ve been in a decade. Instead of freezing due to these increasing expenses, here are some tips that could keep you warm while keeping more cash in your pockets this winter.

Tips To Minimize Your Heating Costs This Winter

It may take a bit more work, but following these tips could prevent your winter heating bill from blowing your budget.

1. Get your heating costs covered by the government.

The most ideal method to minimize your winter heating costs is to get them paid for by the government. That’s what the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can do since it helps households with financial needs pay for their heating and cooling costs. In other words, if you qualify for LIHEAP, you could stop worrying about soaring electric bills during the winter and summer months.

LIHEAP eligibility depends on income. If you make below a certain amount for your household size, you could qualify for these money-saving benefits that also include appliance repairs and replacements. Beyond meeting the income threshold, you could also qualify for LIHEAP automatically if you already receive government assistance via SNAP, TANF, SSI, etc.

2. Heat only sections of your home.

Unless your entire home is filled with friends or family, you probably don’t need to heat every square inch of it. That’s where a small space heater can come in handy, as you can place it near you to stay warm at a fraction of the cost.

While a small space heater will set you back some cash upfront (only about $30), it will more than pay for itself over time. Head to Amazon.com or your nearest home goods store to snag a small space heater before winter hits.

3. Insulate your home.

Warm (or cool) air could be escaping your home due to poor insulation, keeping you uncomfortable while increasing your utility bill in the process. Check your attic or basement to see if there is any blackened insulation, which is a sign that air is escaping. Add insulation to fix the problem, and you should feel warmer this winter while lowering your bill.

4. Find other ways to stay warm.

Running your heater is a costly way to stay warm. A cheaper way is to use blankets, thick socks, sweatshirts, etc., to bundle up and keep those costs down.