Lower your heating and power bill this winter: 9 free or cheap fixes that actually work

By the Harbor team · September 28, 2026 · 5 min read

Your utility bill is one of the few monthly costs you can shrink without giving anything up. Most of the savings come from a handful of small changes you make once, before the cold arrives, and then forget about.

Start with the thermostat

Heating and cooling is the biggest energy job in most homes, so it's where small changes pay the most.

• Turn it back while you sleep or are out. The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7 to 10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
• Don't worry about "working harder to warm back up." A cooler house loses heat more slowly, so the longer it stays at the lower setting, the more you save.
• Let a schedule do it for you. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, set a weekday and weekend schedule once. Most people who own one never program it.

Stop paying to heat the outdoors

Air leaking around doors, windows and attic openings is money leaving the house. The EPA's ENERGY STAR program estimates homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by air sealing and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and basements.

• Weatherstrip doors and caulk windows. ENERGY STAR notes these simple fixes often pay for themselves in a year or less, and supplies cost little at a hardware store.
• Feel for drafts on a windy day around outlets on outside walls, the attic hatch, and where pipes and wires enter the house.
• Renting? Removable weatherstripping, door draft stoppers and window film are usually allowed. Ask your landlord about anything permanent.

Change the filter you forgot about

A dirty furnace or HVAC filter slows airflow and makes the system work harder. ENERGY STAR recommends checking it every month during heavy-use seasons and changing it at least every 3 months. It's a few minutes and a few dollars.

Turn down the water heater

Many water heaters ship set hotter than most households need. The Department of Energy recommends 120°F, and says that setting can save about $36 to $61 a year. Look for the dial on the tank; on a gas heater it's usually on the front near the bottom. If anyone in the home has special health needs, check with a professional first.

Find the "vampire" power

Many electronics keep drawing power when they're switched off: TVs, game consoles, chargers, computer gear and set-top boxes. The Department of Energy says the typical home has about forty of these products, together using almost 10% of residential electricity.

• Plug the TV, console and speakers into one power strip and switch it off at night.
• Unplug chargers and spare appliances you rarely use.

Swap the last old bulbs

ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs use roughly 20 to 25% of the energy of old incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. Start with the lights that are on the most: kitchen, porch, living room.

Call your utility once a year

Your utility company often has options it doesn't advertise loudly:

• Budget or level billing spreads your yearly cost into even monthly payments, so a cold January doesn't break the budget. It doesn't lower the total, but it makes it predictable.
• Different rate plans. Some utilities offer time-of-use plans that charge less at off-peak hours. Ask whether one would suit how your household uses power.
• Free or discounted home energy checkups, rebates on efficient equipment, and payment arrangements if you've fallen behind.

If you need help paying for heat

The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households with heating and cooling bills, energy crises and weatherization. It is run through your state, not Washington: each state has its own application and rules, and the federal government does not take applications directly.

• To find your local office, call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327, or search "LIHEAP" plus your state's name and use the official state or .gov site.
• Watch for scams. LIHEAP does not charge a fee for a benefit. Anyone asking you to pay to "apply" or "unlock" energy assistance, or threatening to cut your power today unless you pay by gift card or app, is not your utility. Hang up and call the number on your bill.

Where Harbor fits

Harbor is a consulting membership built to help households keep more of their money. Members get everyday savings on coffee, groceries, gas and dining at participating merchants, member travel pricing, a 24/7 trip rescue desk, and consultation hours to talk through a contract or offer before they sign. We don't sell energy plans or run utility programs, but trimming your power bill and using your member savings are two parts of the same habit: small, steady wins that add up.