My bills are too high
Let's find where the money's leaking
First, see where the money goes
High bills usually come from one of three places: heating, cooling, or water heating. Our Bill Breakdown tool helps you see the split so you know what to focus on.
Bill Breakdown Estimator
Enter your annual bills and home info. See heating, cooling, and base load split in 2 minutes.
Start with quick wins
These low-cost improvements often pay back in months, not years. Do them first before bigger projects.
Check for air leaks
Gaps around windows, doors, and outlets let conditioned air escape. Often the cheapest fix with fast payback.
Seal and insulate ducts
Leaky ducts in unconditioned spaces (attic, crawlspace) can waste 20–30% of your heating/cooling.
Adjust thermostat habits
Every degree you adjust saves ~3% on heating/cooling. A smart thermostat automates this.
Check water heater settings
Water heating is 15–20% of most bills. 120°F is usually enough; higher wastes energy.
Plan upgrades by your budget
Different budgets call for different projects. Here's what typically makes sense at each level—but your specific situation may vary.
Under $500
- DIY air sealing (caulk, weatherstripping, outlet gaskets)
- Smart thermostat installation
- LED bulb replacements
- Water heater temperature adjustment + pipe insulation
$500 – $2,000
- Professional air sealing
- Attic insulation blow-in
- Duct sealing
- Window film or cellular shades
$2,000 – $10,000
- Heat pump water heater
- Mini-split heat pump (1–2 zones)
- Comprehensive insulation upgrade
- Smart home energy monitoring
$10,000+
- Whole-home heat pump system
- Solar panel installation
- Deep envelope retrofit (walls + attic + basement)
- Window replacements
Related guides
Dig deeper into the details with these articles.
Ready to build a plan?
Our My Plan tool helps you sequence these upgrades into a now/next/later roadmap based on your budget and goals.