Cut Your Energy Bill This Winter with 35 Pro Tips

26. Insulate hot things

There’s a good chance that you use an insulated container in the car to keep your coffee warm. That same heat-containing principle can be applied to parts of your home, with money-saving results.

For example, if there are a lot of exposed hot-water pipes in your basement, you could cover them with inexpensive pipe insulation from your local hardware store. It takes just a few minutes to do and it will keep your hot water hot — about two to four degrees hotter, per the Department of Energy. That, in turn, may allow you to set your water heater to a lower temperature.

And speaking of water heaters, they can be insulated, too. Newer ones are likely already insulated, inside, but older models may not be. If the outside of your water heater feels warm, that’s a sign that it could use insulation. The Department of Energy notes that insulating your water heater “could reduce standby heat losses by 25% to 45% and save you about 7% to 16% in water heating costs — and should pay for itself in about a year.” It adds that pre-cut jackets or blankets are available from around $20.