It is no secret that harsh winters can lead to costly heating bills.

In addition to cold weather, there are reasons such as inefficient home heating that can make your living space chillier.

Here is what you need to know to avoid these costly heating bills this winter.

If your thermostat’s temperature is set to too high, you could unknowingly be spending more on heating your home.

Try lowering your thermostat by a couple degrees, and see if the environment is still comfortable. Those couple of degrees could save 5-to-10% on your heating costs.

It might also be advantageous to purchase a programmable thermostat so you can set the thermostat to only run when people are inside the house, so you are not wasting money on heating an empty house.

Poor insulation in the attic or walls causes problems retaining heat inside your home. If you notice your heater is on all day yet your house is not getting warmer, you likely are dealing with poor insulation.

An analysis of home heating insulation can fix this problem. In some instances, you might just need additional insulation in your home. But if your insulation is damaged with water or is infested with pests, a full replacement might be necessary.

Electric furnaces may keep your home cozy and warm, but they are also very expensive to operate. The reason why is electricity is more costly than natural gas or propane, so your electric bill will go up once you decide to heat your home.

But there is one way you can reduce your heating bill. You can do this by simply changing the air filters every other month, since a furnace works harder to suck air through a clogged filter, according to Bob Vila.

You also might want to check on the age of your furnace, as most furnaces have a lifespan of 25 years.

Utility companies such as PSE&G, JCP&L, Elizabethtown Gas and Atlantic City Electric offer free in-home energy checkups. They will come to your home and take an audit, offering advice on ways to save money on your bills.

In some cases, they also will replace light bulbs, shower faucets and thermostats at no cost to make your home more efficient.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.