Sky-high utility bill? Winter-proof your home and save on heating costs with these 7 tips

Glass is a poor insulator, so when it comes to large picture windows or patio doors, hanging a heavy curtain can provide an additional barrier against cold air.

This heavy-weight, insulated curtain panel will stop cold air from outside in a flash and increase the energy efficiency of your home. Customers say it's an effective, easy way to block cold air. Plus, in the summer months, it will also keep out the heat. 

Adding seal strips around your door can provide a tighter seal, help block out the draft, and keep the heat in. Customers say this easy-to-cut foam weatherstripping feels "premium and durable," with one reviewer noting the difference was "remarkable" when applied around a drafty front door. This one comes in a 26-foot roll. 

Any large glass doors or windows in your home can be winterized with an insulation kit designed to keep cold air out and warm air in. 

With more than 17,000 ratings on Amazon, this 3M patio door insulation kit is a crowdpleaser. The easy-to-install film is meant to be placed inside large doors or windows and sealed in place with a hairdryer. (Keep in mind you won't be able to open the door until the spring!) 

One reviewer notes it was "easy to apply" and was an affordable way to keep the cold Canadian weather out. Another says their room is "noticeably warmer" by about three degrees. However, some reviewers had trouble installing it by themselves. 

Some homeowners suffer from drafts coming from under their kitchen cabinets, or other hard-to-reach areas. A no-itch cotton insulation like this one can stop drafts in a pinch, without any gloves or goggles required. 

Frost King says to cut it or rip it and put it anywhere that needs a bit of insulation, like ducts or walls, while one reviewer said it was "working well" as winter insulation around a drafty window. 

Estimates suggest that basements can account for around 25 per cent of a home's total heat loss. In the basement, heat tends to escape along the sill — the area where the foundation wall meets the floor slab. Targeting this area of your home can be key to combat heat loss. 

A spray foam insulation intended for large gaps, like this one from SIKA, can help stop drafts by filling large crevices that are difficult to reach or awkward to fill with other types of insulation. One reviewer notes it "worked well" for a large crevice in their basement. Be sure to wear gloves, goggles, and clothes you don't care about, though. This stuff can be messy and it doesn't wash out of clothing. 

Create a tight seal between any drafty window and its frame with a transparent tape that's designed to prevent cold drafts from blowing into your home. 

With more than 7,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.1 stars, this transparent door and window weather stripping from XFasten is a quick way to stop draft in a pinch. 

Transparent and watertight, the adhesive is meant for short-term and long-term weather sealing. Because it's basically strong tape, it's also ideal for homeowners with little experience in window sealing. 

Reviewers note that it's thick, sticky, and "great for sealing air leaks." However, keep in mind that it may not be ideal for older windows with painted surfaces, as it may rip off paint upon removal or leave a residue. 

Once you've sealed up any drafts, control the temperature in your home precisely with a programmable smart thermostat. By setting temperature schedules for different times of the day — like lowering the heat while you're at work, for example — you can significantly cut down on unnecessary heating costs. 

According to ecobee, this Wifi-enabled smart thermostat can "automatically save" up to 23 per cent per year on heating and cooling costs. Users can set up smart schedules so the thermostat automatically adjusts temperatures based on the time of day. 

One reviewer says the installation process was "foolproof," while others love the ability to adjust home temperatures remotely through the app. One reviewer says they've seen a drop in their electric bill after just two months.