The summer and winter can cause your heating and cooling bill to be much higher than in the fall and spring because you have to heat or cool your house accordingly. However, there are a few ways to combat the heat and also lower your overall bill.

The first thing to do is check all of your house’s seals. If your seals are not done property, you could be losing heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer due to your seals. When this happens, your heating and air have to work harder and run more often, causing your bill to be higher. If you fix your seals, you could save your heating and air from running all the time, saving you money.

Another way to combat the cold and hot months from running up your bill is to adjust your thermostat. Doing 10-15 degrees cooler or warmer than what you usually do for 8 hours a day can save you 10% of your bill. You can do this manually when you leave for work, or you can get a smart thermostat, like a Nest. If you aren’t at home, you won’t notice it’s cooler or warmer in the house, and then you can adjust the temperatures when you are back home. Just doing something like this can help save you money and still let you keep your house at a comfortable temperature when you’re home.

The last way to lower your heating and cooling bill is to adjust your fridge and freezer temps. Most people usually leave these temperatures at the pre-set setting. You may not need your fridge or freezer as cold. As long as it’s cold enough to keep food fresh or frozen, that is all you need. This can help lower your bill as well.