Soaring summer heat and colder winters mean energy costs can quickly get out of hand for homeowners. Fortunately, simple fixes can drastically improve efficiency immediately. These tricks will save money and create a comfortable temperature inside your home.

Most local utility companies will perform an energy audit for free or a small fee. Get feedback from professionals about ways to save money and see where most of your energy usage goes. Here are some simple ways to reduce your home’s energy bills by fall.

1. Improve Your Insulation

It’s no surprise that your insulation greatly impacts how much heat escapes your home. Adding or replacing insulation in your home will almost instantaneously decrease your electric or gas bill. The average American household paid $138 per month for electricity in 2023, depending on the weather. EPA estimates homeowners may save around 15% on heating and cooling costs or 11% on total energy costs through insulation and sealing their homes, significantly reducing utility bills.

Anything you can do to reduce your monthly payments helps. Start by hiring a professional to inspect your insulation. Blow-in insulation may have settled and left bare spots, so adding more will help. Spray-on foam insulation is one option. You can also seal the underneath side of your floor if you have a crawl space or basement.

Those who enjoy do-it-yourself projects can add insulation to the attic walls and between rafters for an energy-efficiency boost.

2. Conduct HVAC Maintenance

Schedule regular inspections of your heating and cooling system in the spring and fall before the hottest and coldest weather arrives. You can dust cold air return vents and replace the filter monthly. Change it more frequently if you have a lot of people or pets in your home.

A heating and cooling specialist can top off refrigerant fluids, clean coils and drains, and check air flow. A well-maintained unit performs more efficiently and reduces your home’s energy usage. Get on a schedule to have things inspected. A professional can also spot issues with gas furnaces, which can keep your family safe from dangerous carbon monoxide leaks.

3. Check Door Seals

Once your HVAC unit runs at maximum efficiency, it’s time to check for leaks. Inspect all your door and window seals to find places where warm air might escape or cold air might enter in the fall and winter.

Don’t forget your garage door, as it’s the biggest opening in your home where air can escape. An insulated door improves your energy use and can increase its life span, saving money on replacement costs in the long run. Garage door insulation works on an R-value rating system, determining the material’s effectiveness in preventing energy loss through the insulation. The Department of Energy gives a comprehensive overview on the rating system.

4. Reduce Consumption

Getting into the habit of using less energy can take time. For example, you might typically leave a room and not turn off the lights. Do you really need them on for most tasks, though?

Turn the thermostat down a few degrees and wear a sweater to save even more. The Department of Energy says lowering your thermostat by one degree can have a net savings of 3% and lowering it by seven degrees can save you 10% on your yearly energy bills.

On many fall days, you may not need the furnace or air conditioner at all. Open a few windows if warm or wear a jacket or extra layers if chilled. You can also use ceiling fans to cool a room or circulate warmth more evenly.

5. Take Advantage of Off-Peak Hours

Most U.S. households spend around $489.35 per month on utilities, including cable and internet. The biggest bill tends to be for electricity. Call your power company and ask if the rates are less expensive during nonpeak hours and what those might be.

Wait until lower rate hours to do laundry, cook and run appliances, such as vacuums and the television, whenever possible.

6. Look for Phantom Energy Use

Many appliances pull on power even when they aren’t in use. Computers and televisions are notorious for phantom energy use. Fortunately, you can easily install a power strip that turns off the juice when the electronics aren’t in use.

You can also unplug things you use only occasionally, such as the toaster or can opener. Older appliances may use more electricity than Energy Star-compliant ones. Consider replacing those that are more than a decade old if you can afford to do so.

Start Prepping in Late Summer to Be Ready for Fall

Start your prep work before cooler weather hits to maximize efficiency in the fall. Summer is the perfect time to search for hidden air leaks, add more weatherstripping, and hang insulated curtains. If you make small changes all year, you’ll use less energy every season.