PITTSBURGH -- Gas companies from the East to the Midwest have reported an increase in costs by 18 to 20 percent, meaning customers have to pay the difference. But there are some measures homeowners can take to save in home-heating costs.

For every degree you turn the thermostat down, you can save 3 percent on your heating bill (Read More About Thermostat Settings).

Video: Turn Down Thermostat To Save Money

You can also do more to save money in a hurry, according Jeff Donne, an engineer for The Bosch Co., which has a study under way to review how to save on energy costs.

Donne said many people heat areas of their house that they don't have to. For instance, if you have a room in a five-room home that you're not using, don't heat it -- close the vents and shut the door.

"You're talking about 20 percent of the home. So, if you can cut your costs and cut your energy off in that part of the house, you're saving energy," said Jeff Donne, a research engineer.

Also, when you go to sleep, you don't have to heat your home as much.

"Also understand that if you're not in the home, those are really times when you can save a lot of money and kick the thermostat way down," Donne said.

So, what does "way down" mean? Let's say you normally keep the heat on 68 degrees. If you leave for a few hours, set your thermostat down to 60 degrees. If you're gone longer, say a weekend, you can knock it all the way down to 50 degrees, especially if you have a new furnace.

"If you're using a higher efficiency furnace, these are again opportunities for savings, because it doesn't take as much energy to bring the facility up to temperature," Donne said.

Also, you can open blinds and drapes during the day to let the sun heat the house. Then, close them at night to keep the heat in. Changing your furnace filters often, about every month, and insulating doors and windows can also help.