Slash Your Electric, Gas and Water Bills This Winter With These Easy Steps

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

Winter is coming fast, and as the temperatures continue to drop, the price of electricity, natural gas and oil are set to rise, experts say. Heating costs alone are expected to jump more than 17% across the US compared to last winter, outpacing inflation and hitting the highest prices in more than 10 years, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (PDF). 

If those higher prices are starting to put a strain on your budget, you can start making changes to reduce the energy you use and cut down your bill. Even small habits like unplugging unused appliances, washing your clothes a different way, cooking with certain energy-saving appliances or setting your thermostat to the right temperature can save a bit of money and make your home more efficient. 

Here are seven steps you can take to start saving electricity, gas, water — and cash. For more money-saving tips, check out more on how to save money on your heating bill this winter, how to weatherstrip your home to save on bills, and how much it will cost you to run a space heater. 

Get an electricity audit

Many electric companies offer a free audit, where they do a room-by-room examination of your home and look at your electricity bills to help determine where you’re wasting energy. You can follow their recommendations to help reduce your electric bill.

Even if your electric company doesn’t provide this service, you can easily perform a DIY home energy audit using the US Department of Energy website’s instructions.

Adjust your thermostat

One of the simplest ways to reduce your electricity bill is to adjust your thermostat. According to the Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% on your heating and cooling costs by adjusting your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours per day. In other words, keep it a bit warmer in the summer and a bit cooler in the winter.

A simple way to do this is to adjust your thermostat when you’re either asleep or away from home. If you have a smart thermostat, you can preset your thermostat to adjust during these hours so you don’t forget.

Turn down your water heater

Many water heater manufacturers set thermostats at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 C). But in reality, most households only need it set at a maximum of 120 F. Setting your water heater to a lower temperature can save hundreds of dollars a year.

Adjusting a water heater’s temperature is a quick and easy fix. The thermostat dial on your water heater is likely near the bottom of the tank on the electric or gas control valve. Be sure to check the owner’s manual for instructions to adjust it — and if you have any questions, consult a professional technician.

Turn off and unplug what you aren’t using

By leaving things around your house plugged in and turned on when you aren’t using them, you’re driving up your electric bill unnecessarily.

You can start by turning off lights when you aren’t in the room or when it’s light enough outside to rely solely on natural light. Lightbulbs consume 4 cents per hour for 40 watts (though the average American is likely to pay more). That amount only increases with the wattage of the bulb. While it doesn’t seem like much, it can certainly add up over time.

You can also save money by unplugging appliances you aren’t using. Phantom energy, the energy your appliances use when they’re plugged in but not turned on, can cost an average of $100 per year.

Use your dishwasher

It might sound counterintuitive to suggest running an appliance to save on your electricity bill. And yes, there was a time where dishwashers used far more water than they do today. But the Department of Energy regulates how much water modern dishwashers can use. Any dishwasher manufactured since 2013 is limited to using 5 gallons of water. If it’s a compact size dishwasher, it’s limited to 3.5 gallons.

You might think that surely you use less than 5 gallons of water to hand-wash your dishes. But the US Geological Survey estimates that it takes anywhere from 9 to 27 gallons of water to hand-wash a load of dishes. (If you’re curious, we’ve also got a tip on how to load your dishwasher the right way.) 

Take advantage of off-peak rates

Electricity use tends to be higher during certain times of the day and the year. First, demand is higher in the winter and summer when people are running heaters and air conditioners. It’s also higher during the daytime and evening hours.

Some electricity companies offer time-of-use plans, increasing rates during peak hours and decreasing them during off-peak hours. If you have one of these plans, you can save money by running large appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine early in the morning or late at night.

Change your air filters

Your air filter helps to catch any dirt, dust, pet hair and more, preventing it from making its way into your HVAC. When you don’t change your air filters regularly enough, this debris gets into your HVAC system and bogs it down, reducing its efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, replacing your filters on schedule can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by anywhere from 5% to 15%. (Here’s how much you can save by changing your furnace filter, too.) 

More ways to save on your bills

There are many steps, big and small, that you can take to reduce your consumption and save money on your bills. The Department of Energy has an entire section of its website devoted to providing tips to help you save on energy. And while plenty of them come with a price tag, there are many more just like those on this list that you can do for free.

For more, check out the ceiling fan trick that can help your house stay warmer this winter, and how much it costs to run a gas fireplace. 

More money saving tips