Winter heating tips aren’t just for the thrifty folk among us. They’re for anyone who’s sick of watching their bill go up faster than a cat up the curtains.
With winter just a couple of months away, it’s important to remember that keeping your house warm doesn’t have to mean turning the heater up to 11 or dressing up like you’re going trekking in Antarctica. With a few simple changes, you can reduce heat escape, cut down on costs and still be toasty while watching TV with a hot water bottle.
Whether you use a gas heater, reverse cycle air con or wrap yourself in a heated blanket, the key is to be smart about how you heat your home. These winter energy-saving tips will help you stay warm without your bank account breaking out in a cold sweat.
Tip #1: Insulate Like You Mean It
If you don’t have insulation running throughout your house, you might as well be heating the whole street. Good insulation is one of the best winter heating tips because it keeps warm air in and stops that sneaky heat escape that blows out your heating bills.
Remember how warm air rises? That’s a good reason to start with ceiling insulation. Then, move on to underfloor insulation (and your walls if you really want to feel the difference). Check the R value to make sure you’re getting the right level of protection. Finally, when you get your insulation installed, make sure it is suitable for your home’s design.
Insulation is a highly effective way to use your heating system more efficiently and save money in the long run. It just might even lead to fewer arguments about who left the door open again!
Tip #2: Seal the Deal with Draught Stoppers
There’s nothing quite like a cold blast of air under the door to ruin a nice evening. Want to stop heat escaping? Of course you do.
Sealing up draughts is a quick and cheap way to minimise avoidable heat loss from your home. You can use any of the following:
- draught stoppers
- door snakes
- draught excluders
They’re great for blocking gaps under doors and around windows where warm air goes to hide.
Add door seals for a tighter fit and, if you have one, don’t forget your chimney. Proper sealing means your heating system won’t have to work as hard, helping to cut down your bill and keep your house warm.
(Bonus: you’ll also have no more mysterious indoor breezes blowing your curtains closed.)
Tip #3: Use Ceiling Fans in Reverse
You’ve probably given your ceiling fans a good workout over the recent summer months. However, if you’re like most people, you’ve probably forgotten (or perhaps didn’t even realise) that you can use your ceiling fan in winter too!
Flip the switch on your fan (yes, it has one) to reverse the blade direction. It will push warm air back down from the ceiling and circulate it through the room. Since warm air rises, reversing your fan helps distribute heat more evenly, making your heating system work less and use less energy.
It’s a simple winter energy-saving trick that can really cut heating costs, especially in rooms with high ceilings. Just make sure the fan’s not running too fast, unless you want to launch your hot water bottle into orbit.
Tip #4: Optimise Your Heating System Setup
Heating your entire house and hoping for the best is a great way to blow through your bill. A smarter setup helps your heating system do its job and save energy. Here’s how to use what you’ve got more effectively:
- Stick to 18–20°C on your heater or air con. Sustainability Victoria suggests that every degree higher can bump up your energy bills by around 15 per cent.
- Only heat the rooms you’re using, especially with space heating.
- Shut doors to keep warm air from drifting into cold, unused spaces.
- Use reverse cycle air conditioning with a high energy rating for better efficiency.
- Service your heating appliances regularly to avoid heat loss.
- Position appliances and furniture to allow clear airflow—don’t block vents or units.
With a few changes, your home heating becomes more targeted, more efficient and a lot more cost-effective.
Tip #5: Layer Up and Go for Direct Contact Warmth
One of the most effective winter heating tips is this: sometimes the best way to stay warm is to warm yourself, not the whole suburb.
Direct contact warmth is a stealthy energy-saving way to be cosy without running your gas or ducted heaters all night. You can wrap yourself up in a heated throw while watching TV, pop a hot water bottle under the covers (don’t use boiling water though), or use a heat pack to warm your lap like a budget-friendly sunbeam. An electric blanket on a timer can take the chill off your bed without cooking you like a lasagne. Wearing layers indoors helps too—jumpers, slippers, socks that could smother a bear.
These simple swaps reduce your energy use and heating costs, all while keeping your house warm enough to feel human again.
Tip #6: Let the Sun Do the Work
The sun might be useless in winter, but it’s still pumping out free warm air if you know how to catch it.
Open curtains and blinds during the day to let sunlight in through your existing windows and warm up your home. Then, as soon as the sun goes down, close them tight to keep the heat in. Using good curtains or thermal film helps trap hot air inside, making your room feel warmer for longer. It’s an easy energy-saving tip that costs nothing and works surprisingly well, especially when paired with good insulation.
Don’t underestimate the sun: it’s basically the original heating system, just without a plug.
Tip #7: Upgrade Windows and Doors for Maximum Efficiency
Sorry to say this, but your windows and doors may be undermining your entire heating system.
If they’re old, leaky or just plain useless, you’re losing warm air faster than you can turn up the gas heater. Installing double glazing reduces heat loss and blocks out the cold like a magic trick. Add door seals to stop draughts sneaking in around the frames and consider thermal film as a budget-friendly fix for existing windows.
If you’re feeling fancy (and slightly fed up), go for insulated floors and heavier, high-quality curtains and blinds to really seal the deal. These upgrades make your house warmer, cut your energy bill and help your heating and cooling systems work like they actually have a chance.
Keep Your Home Warmer Without the Wallet Pain
Being cosy this winter doesn’t mean you have to burn a mountain of money to get there. With a few effective winter heating tips like sealing up draughts, upgrading your insulation and using your heating system more efficiently, you can keep your house warm without watching your energy bill skyrocket.
It’s all about reducing heat loss, using energy-efficient tools (hello, reverse cycle air conditioners), and choosing warmth that’s actually useful, like a hot water bottle instead of heating the whole house.
These winter heating tips aren’t just about comfort; they’ll help you save money, reduce energy costs and maybe even stop yelling “WHO LEFT THIS DOOR OPEN” every five minutes. So yes, you can be warm and snug (and maybe even a little smug).
Please note: Thanks for reading our blog “7 Winter Heating Tips to Lower Your Bills”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.