--- title: "Best Cheap Ways to Cut Your Heating Bill in 2026: Window Fixes, Draft Stoppers, and More" description: "With heating oil above $6 a gallon, these low-cost fixes can help keep the warmth in your home." url: https://home.skoop.news/20-ways-to-keep-warm-without-turning-on-the-heat-94011c/ published: 2026-11-04T19:24:24.242864-05:00 modified: 2026-11-04T19:24:24.242876-05:00 section: "Home & DIY" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Department of Energy", "Justin Bohannon of Affordable Solutions HVAC & Electrical", "National Energy Assistance Directors Association", "Josh Mitchell", "NEADA", "DIY", "Heattech", "Ofgem"] hashtags: ["#DepartmentOfEnergy", "#Diy", "#homeimprovement"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Artopia_2009_-_power_tool_racing_09.jpg/1280px-Artopia_2009_-_power_tool_racing_09.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Best Cheap Ways to Cut Your Heating Bill in 2026: Window Fixes, Draft Stoppers, and More > With heating oil above $6 a gallon, these low-cost fixes can help keep the warmth in your home. Published 2026-11-04 · Updated 2026-11-04 · Home & DIY, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Heating oil prices for 2026 are topping $6 a gallon, and that hits any home that burns it. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) - Bubble wrap is the simplest window fix here. Cut the wrap to fit inside the window frame, spray a thin film of water on the window, and press the bubble wrap into the glass. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) - A toilet paper test can reveal air leaks. Hold a piece of toilet paper in front of window and door frames, and if it moves, you have found a crack that needs sealing. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) ## Why heating costs hurt this winter Heating oil prices for 2026 are topping $6 a gallon, and that hits any home that burns it. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), homeowners can expect to pay an average of 8.7 percent more to heat their homes than they did last winter. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) If you want to spend less, start with where the heat leaves. Drafty windows are among the biggest causes of heat loss. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) ## Window fixes Bubble wrap is the simplest window fix here. Cut the wrap to fit inside the window frame, spray a thin film of water on the window, and press the bubble wrap into the glass. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) The layer lets sunlight in while keeping warmth inside. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Insulation film kits are another option. They typically cost around £5 to £20 and use double-sided tape and a hairdryer to create an insulating layer across the window. [[2]](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) The 3M window insulation kit is 0.75 mils thick and comes as one cut-to-fit sheet measuring 17.5 feet long by 5.16 feet wide. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Your curtains matter too. Thick or lined curtains help keep heat inside, especially on bright sunny days, and sill-length curtains should be used if a radiator sits beneath the window. [[2]](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) Keep window coverings open on south-facing windows to let in the warmest afternoon sun, and close the curtains at night to keep warm air inside. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) ## Find and seal the leaks A toilet paper test can reveal air leaks. Hold a piece of toilet paper in front of window and door frames, and if it moves, you have found a crack that needs sealing. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Weatherstripping can fill gaps around windows and doors, and foam insulation can be added to outlets to reduce heat loss. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) HVAC technician Josh Mitchell says caulk should be used for stationary cracks and gaps, especially around window frames or where siding meets the home's foundation. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Doors need attention as well. Foam pipe insulation can be cut and wrapped around the bottom of doors, including interior doors, as a DIY draft fix. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) If cold air enters under a bedroom door, a draught excluder is a cheap, easy fix. [[2]](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) ## Move the heat you already have Running a ceiling fan can make a room warmer if the blades spin clockwise. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) A switch at the base of the fan reverses the direction, which creates an updraft that pushes warm air toward the walls and back down into the room. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Placing reflective plates made of aluminum foil behind each radiator can reflect warmth back into the room. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Keep air vents clear of window treatments and furniture. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Leaving the bathroom exhaust fan off during a hot shower, especially with the bathroom door open, lets steam warm the bathroom and adjacent halls and rooms. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) ## Water heater, thermostat, and fireplace According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulating a water heater can save about $20 a month. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Check the owner's manual first to confirm the model can safely be covered. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Justin Bohannon of Affordable Solutions HVAC & Electrical says a smart thermostat with setback temperatures during low-demand times, such as work or sleep, can save energy and reduce heating costs. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) In traditional fireplaces, about 80 percent of the heat generated escapes up the chimney, and an open fireplace can suck warm air out of the room. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Close the flue after a fire is put out, and keep it open while the fire is burning, to prevent warm air from escaping. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) ## Warm up the bedroom and yourself An electric blanket keeps the bed warm without increasing central heating. [[2]](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) Using a 150W electric blanket costs around 4p per hour at the average rate, according to the Ofgem electricity price cap for October to December 2026. [[2]](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) Never use a hot-water bottle in the same bed as an electric blanket. [[2]](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) A rug beside the bed can take the chill off bare floors because its fibres trap air, and an underlay adds further insulation. [[2]](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) Uniqlo sells Heattech clothing, including shirts, undershirts, long underwear, leggings, and socks, that uses technology to trap heat. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) ## What this means for you If you heat with oil, you face prices above $6 a gallon. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) NEADA says homeowners can expect to pay an average of 8.7 percent more than last winter. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Start with the toilet paper test on your window and door frames. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Then seal what you find with weatherstripping or caulk. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Check the owner's manual before you insulate your water heater, since the Department of Energy puts the saving at about $20 a month. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) Keep your vents clear and your curtains closed at night. [[1]](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) ## Sources 1. [20 Ways to Keep Warm Without Turning on the Heat](https://www.bobvila.com/interior/keep-warm-without-heat/) — Bob Vila 2. [Cold bedroom? 7 clever ways to stay warm at night without turning the heating on](https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a74258884/make-bedroom-warmer-without-increasing-heating-bills/) — Yahoo Image: Photo (illustrative): Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artopia_2009_-_power_tool_racing_09.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/