Forget turning on the heating this early in fall – stay warm instead with this 5-cent-a-day heating hero and enjoy lower energy bills all winter

I have chronic pain, so the cold really bothers me. That’s why I’d usually be the first in line to flip the switch and turn my heating on as the cooler weather creeps in.

However, in a bid to keep my energy bills low, I have been reaching for my trusty $16 heatpad from Amazon, instead of the thermostat, whenever the chill hits me. HVAC pros confirm it costs as little as 5 cents a day to run a small one, and take it from me, it really makes all the difference.

It’s not only a great way to stay warm, but also to make heating your home more efficient, as it's easier and cheaper to warm yourself, than an entire house. A real winner this early in fall when that awful chill starts to settle in your bones, and an enduring winter comfort I cannot live without.

Why I’m using a heatpad to stay warm instead of turning the heating on

Thanks to my ridiculous mix of chronic illnesses, the cold hurts my joints, but too much heat makes me dizzy and can trigger migraines. That’s why I don’t mind my house being on the cooler side, as long as I am feeling warm enough.

That’s why I have been using Amazon heatpads for 20 years. It’s a great way to warm up achy areas, or just get cozy without overheating.

HVAC pro and founder of AirConditionerLab, Josh Mitchell, loves using his heatpad, too. He says, 'I’ve been using a small heat pad on my lap in the mornings and evenings, and yes, it really does cost next to nothing to run. Mine pulls around 50 watts, so even if I leave it on for five or six hours a day, it only adds up to about 4 to 5 cents. That’s way cheaper than heating the whole house when I’m just sitting in one spot.'

Josh also adds that using a heat pad is one of the most cost-effective ways to stay warm before turning on the central heat. He says, 'Most standard electric heat pads draw between 40 and 75 watts. If you run one for eight hours a day, that adds up to around 0.32 to 0.6 kilowatt-hours. At the national average electricity rate of about 15 cents per kWh, that’s 5 to 9 cents per day. Smaller models, especially those designed for lap or targeted body use, typically fall on the lower end of that range.'

I have a small one, as featured above, and it's more than enough for the entire day. In the mornings, I have it on my lap to keep me warm in my north-facing home office. In the evenings, I usually lie on the sofa and put the heatpad across my lower back or knees, where deep pain is setting in. Before I get into bed, I put the heatpad on to warm up my sheets.

Josh says that last one is a great way to avoid 'cold-sheet shock' and reduces the need to warm up your entire bedroom to find comfort during this seasonal shift in weather and temperature.

All this, coupled with the selection of machine-washable soft throws available at Walmart, in rotation, means I won’t be turning on my home heating for at least a few more weeks.

Josh reckons using a heatpad is a great tactic to keep your bills down. He says, 'Heating yourself directly instead of the whole room or house is a smart move early in the season. It reduces load on your HVAC system, especially when outside temps haven’t fully dropped but the house feels chilly.

'I’ve had clients delay turning on their furnace by two to three weeks simply by using spot heating like heat pads, heated throws, and warm bedding. That can save 10 to 15 percent off the monthly heating bill, depending on how much they run their central system.'

The great news is that heatpads only cost about 10 cents to run for a full 24 hours, so it’s super affordable and a way to keep warm all day.

What to shop

When using a heatpad, Josh advises, 'I always recommend double-checking that the cord is in good shape and the plug fits snugly. I also avoid placing anything heavy on top of it while it's on.'

He personally likes the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL heatpad and the Sunbeam XpressHeat models, both available at Amazon. Josh says, 'Both stay under 100 watts, heat up fast, and have consistent temp control. They cost about 6 to 8 cents per eight hours of use.'

I'll add to that with my own final tip: Make sure to never fold your electric heatpad, whether it's on or off, to keep the heating elements intact and functioning well.

Meet our expert

Josh Mitchell

Josh founded AirConditionerLab in 2014, and has been improving it ever since, with a focus on bringing quality content that covers all aspects of home heating, cooling, and air quality.

Once it is time to get the heating on, you might be surprised to hear that keeping the heating on all day, if you have a smart thermostat, will actually save you money over the course of winter.

You can also heat the garage to stop it from becoming a conduit for cold air to move into your home.