When the temperatures drop here in Lawrence, it’s pretty common for heating costs to take over the energy bill—sometimes even doubling what you pay to cool your home in the summer. We all want lower bills, especially right now, so is there anything you can do about it?
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to help your furnace run more efficiently and keep your heating bills under control. In this blog, we’ll share a few tips to help you stay warm, comfortable, and on budget this winter season.
Why Is My Heating Bill So High?
Again, it’s completely normal to see your heating bill rise in the winter—after all, your furnace is doing the heavy lifting to keep your house warm. Some of those higher costs are just part of the season, but others come from things unique to your home and how your system runs. A few of the most common reasons include:
- Cold Outdoor Temperatures: When temperatures fall into the 20s or lower, your furnace has to run longer to keep up with your thermostat setting. The colder it gets outside, the harder it has to work inside.
- Dirty Filters: It’s so easy to forget to change your air filter, but it’s incredibly important. A dirty or clogged filter is one of the simplest causes of higher energy bills. When airflow is blocked, your system burns more energy just to push air through.
- Drafts and Poor Insulation: Small gaps around doors, windows, or in your attic can let warm air escape faster than you realize. That lost heat means your furnace has to cycle more often.
- Older Equipment: As your heating equipment ages, parts like the heat exchanger or blower motor wear down, which reduces energy efficiency and can lead to higher heating costs.
- Thermostat Settings: Keeping your home too warm—or leaving the thermostat up while you’re away—can add more to your energy bill than most people expect.
And of course, rising energy prices and utility provider rate changes don’t help either. But even if you can’t control those, you can control how efficiently your home uses energy. With a few simple adjustments, you can start seeing more savings—sometimes as soon as your next bill.
How to Lower Your Heating Bills and Make Your Furnace Run More Efficiently
If your heating bills have been higher than expected, there are ways to bring them back down. Many of these changes are easy, affordable, and make a noticeable difference in how efficiently your furnace runs through the long Indiana winter.
1. Set Your Thermostat to the Right Temperature
Small thermostat adjustments can have a big impact on your energy costs. For most Lawrence homes, setting the temperature around 68°F when you’re home and turning it down 7–10 degrees at night when you’re asleep or while you’re away can help lower your heating bill by up to 10%.
- Avoid big swings in temperature—keep a steady schedule for best results.
- Don’t crank the heat up to warm your home faster; it just makes your furnace run longer.
- Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat that learns your routine and adjusts automatically for energy efficiency.
Smart thermostats make saving energy almost effortless. They learn your habits, adjust automatically, and can even be controlled from your phone—helping you stay comfortable while using less heat and spending less on your bills.
2. Seal Leaks and Insulate Drafty Areas
If your house feels colder near windows or doors, you’re probably losing heat through gaps and cracks. Those leaks force your furnace to run more often and waste more energy.
Caulking, weatherstripping, and adding insulation—especially in the attic—can make a big difference.
- Seal around windows and doors with weatherstripping or foam tape.
- Add insulation to attics, crawl spaces, and around ductwork.
- Close fireplace dampers when not in use.
Keeping warm air inside your house and cold air out can lead to significant savings on your energy bill over the course of the winter.
3. Replace or Clean Your Air Filter Regularly
A dirty filter is one of the most common and preventable causes of high energy costs. When airflow is blocked, your furnace uses more energy and wears out faster.
- Check your air filter once a month and replace it every one to three months.
- A clean filter helps your system work efficiently and improves your indoor air quality.
- Keep a few extra filters on hand so you’re never stuck with a clogged one.
This simple, low-cost habit helps your furnace do a better job, keeps you more comfortable, and helps you save money on both energy and repairs.
4. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Equipment
If your furnace is more than 12 years old, it’s worth considering an upgrade very soon. Today’s ENERGY STAR® furnaces are built to use less energy and deliver more consistent heat.
- Look for models with a high AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating—90% or more.
- Pair your new furnace with a smart thermostat to maximize savings.
- Check with your utility company for rebates or financing programs that can lower upfront costs.
Replacing an older system can reduce your energy bill while giving you better comfort and peace of mind for years to come.
5. Look at Local Utility Programs and Energy Assistance Options
Along with improving your furnace’s performance, there are local programs in Lawrence and Marion County designed to help with high heating costs. The Indiana Energy Assistance Program (EAP)—funded through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)—offers a one-time benefit each winter to help offset household energy bills. The payment is sent directly to your utility provider to help offset heating expenses.
- Households facing energy shutoffs or running out of fuel may qualify for emergency help through the same program.
- Another valuable resource is the Weatherization Assistance Program run by the U.S. Department of Energy, which helps homeowners lower long-term energy costs by sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and repairing or replacing inefficient heating equipment—all at no cost for qualifying households.
- Local utility companies like AES Indiana and Citizens Energy Group also offer rebates, budget billing, and energy efficiency programs to help families save money and avoid seasonal spikes in their energy bills.
Even if you don’t qualify for assistance, contacting your utility provider is a smart move—many offer free home energy checkups and weatherization tips to help manage energy prices year-round. Visit in.gov/ihcda or hsi-indiana.com to apply or learn about eligibility.
Furnace Tune-Ups Help You Pay Less and Extend the Life of Your Heating System
Everything we do at Honest Abe’s is about making sure you have a warm, comfortable home that doesn’t cost more than it should. You deserve a furnace that runs efficiently, safely, and keeps your family warm without wasting excess energy. Whether you have a natural gas furnace or an electric furnace, our detailed furnace tune-ups are designed to keep your system in top shape all winter long—and we do the same kind of regular maintenance for your air conditioner to keep cooling bills low when summer rolls back around.
Here’s what our furnace maintenance includes:
- Deep System Cleaning: We remove built-up dust and dirt from the blower assembly, fan blades, and burner compartment so your furnace can breathe easier and heat more evenly.
- Component Inspection: Every part—from the heat exchanger to the gas line and ignition system—is carefully checked for safety, cracks, or wear that could lead to future problems.
- Airflow and Filter Check: We clean or replace your air filter, inspect return and supply vents, and make sure airflow isn’t restricted, which helps reduce strain on the system.
- Electrical and Control Testing: Our technicians tighten connections, test voltage, and confirm your thermostat is communicating correctly to prevent short cycling or uneven heating.
- Efficiency and Safety Testing: We verify the gas pressure, pilot light, and combustion levels to ensure your furnace is heating efficiently and operating safely for your family.
If it’s been a while—maybe not since last year—now’s the perfect time to schedule your furnace maintenance with Honest Abe’s.
Schedule Your Furnace Maintenance in Lawrence With Honest Abe’s
At Honest Abe’s Heating and Cooling, we’ve been proud to serve Lawrence and nearby areas for years—places like Lanesville, Fort Ben, Indian Lake, Oaklandon, The Ridge, and more. With professional furnace maintenance, you’ll cut down on electricity usage, extend your system’s lifespan, and avoid early replacement costs. Our prices are fair, and our people are true experts who only care about helping you.
Don’t wait for a big bill to remind you it’s time to schedule your furnace maintenance in Lawrence. Call us or send a message today. Or, if you just have questions for now, we’re always here to help.