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Natural gas prices might be going up, which means your bill to heat your home will skyrocket. Here are some quick tips on how to save some money at home this winter.

1. Put up the storms. If you have older windows with storm windows, remove the screens and put up the storms.
2. Caulk it up. If there are noticeable cracks around the window on the inside and outside of your home, cold air can leak through. Mend any cracks around window frames and doors.
3. Shrink-wrap it. Consider covering your windows with plastic that can be shrink-wrapped around your windows with just a hairdryer. This material can be purchased at most hardware stores.
4. Turn the heat down. When you are away turn the heat down, but don’t turn it off. It can actually cost more money to heat a freezing house than keep a moderate temperature. Plus you don’t want to run the risk of freezing your water pipes.
5. Let the sun in. During the day, keep your blinds open to let the sun help heat your house. Remember to close them at night to help insulate your home.
6. Install a Programmable Thermostat. The money you can save from a programmable thermostat will return your costs in a month or two.
7. Change the filter. Depending on your furnace’s filter, you should change this every 30-90 days. A dirty filter will make your furnace work harder to force out air, which decreases efficiency and puts more wear on your equipment.
8. Replace bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use a third of the energy of standard light bulbs, and can last ten times longer. Your lower electric bill and the bulb life will pay you many times over.

By taking some quick steps to seal up your home from air leeks and being a bit disciplined, you can save hundreds of dollars this winter.