Posted: November 14, 2025

Five Common Heating Mistakes That Waste Energy and Money

Lower your winter energy spending without losing heat.

Living in the Northeast U.S. can mean weathering some frigid winters. And while snuggling up under a cozy blanket with some warm cocoa can be pleasant on a snowy day, it’s no substitute for an efficiently operating furnace

or boiler.

At Mirabito Energy Products, we help customers get the most from their home heating systems, and a big part of that mission is to help them reduce their energy expenses and save some money in the process. Here are five common ways that homeowners end up wasting energy and driving up their energy costs. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to avoid these pitfalls.

1. Running Heat When You Don’t Need It

We would never encourage a customer to have an uncomfortably cold home. However, far too many homeowners run their heating systems when they don’t need to — specifically when they’re asleep or out of the house.

With a programmable thermostat, you can schedule temperature reductions for the middle of the night and during work hours. A Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat also allows you to adjust your temperature settings from your phone or tablet when you’re away from home.

2. Letting Warm Air Escape and Drafts In

No matter how efficient your heating system is, you’ll run it too often and waste energy if your home has air leaks. To keep warm air from escaping your home, start by sealing gaps and drafts. Install weatherstripping and door sweeps to block chilly air from sneaking in around windows and doors. For smaller cracks or openings in stationary parts of windows, doors and walls, apply caulk to create a tight, long-lasting seal. These simple upgrades help your heating system work more efficiently and keep your home comfortably warm all winter long.

3. Ignoring Inexpensive (or Free) Ways to Improve Your Home Comfort

Here are two simple ways to make your home feel comfortable in the winter without using your home’s heat more often:

• Reverse your ceiling fans. Set fans to spin clockwise at a low speed during winter to push warm air downward. This helps you feel warmer and can cut heating costs by about 2%.
• Let in the sunshine. Open curtains on sunny days to naturally warm your home, then close them at night to keep the heat in and reduce strain on your heating system.

4. Letting Your Home Heat Get Obstructed

Your furnace or boiler will need to work harder to heat your home if the heat’s pathway to your rooms is obstructed. Please take these simple steps to keep the heat flowing efficiently:

• Check air filters monthly. Replace or clean clogged filters to improve airflow, efficiency, and indoor air quality.
• Bleed radiators annually. Release trapped air to maintain even, efficient heat circulation.
• Keep vents clear. Ensure vents are open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or plants.

5. Skipping an Annual Heating Tune-Up

Yearly maintenance for your equipment will keep it running efficiently, reduce the chance of a breakdown and extend its lifespan. An annual professional tune-up is also required to maintain most manufacturers’ warranties in place. In short, a tune-up is an investment in efficiency and reliability that pays dividends all winter!

(Also, with our service membership plans, your heating system can receive annual maintenance, priority service and reduced costs on needed repairs.)

Have you scheduled your annual heating tune-up? Reach out to us today to arrange service.