How to Save on Your Gas Bill With Proven Methods
Unlock proven methods to reduce your gas bill. Implement simple changes for noticeable savings on household energy costs.
Saving on household gas expenses can significantly impact your financial well-being, especially during periods of high usage. Natural gas bills often represent a substantial portion of utility costs, particularly for heating homes and water. Implementing straightforward adjustments to your home and daily routines can lead to noticeable reductions in these monthly expenditures.
Reducing Heating Consumption
Optimizing your home’s heating system is a direct way to reduce gas consumption. Utilizing a programmable or smart thermostat allows for precise temperature control, aligning heating with your household’s schedule. For instance, setting the thermostat to around 68°F when you are home and awake balances comfort with energy efficiency. Lowering the temperature to between 60°F and 65°F when you are asleep or away can yield substantial savings, as even a 1°F reduction maintained for eight hours can decrease energy bills by about 1%.
Regular maintenance of your furnace also contributes to its efficiency. Changing air filters is a simple task; 1- to 2-inch filters typically require replacement every one to three months, while thicker filters (5- to 6-inch) can last nine to twelve months. A dirty filter forces the furnace to work harder, consuming more gas and reducing its effectiveness. Scheduling annual professional tune-ups ensures the furnace operates at peak performance, addressing minor issues before they become costly. For homes with multiple heating zones, a zoning system optimizes gas usage by directing heat only to occupied areas, preventing heating empty rooms.
Efficient Appliance Use
Beyond home heating, other gas-powered appliances offer opportunities for savings through efficient use. Adjusting your water heater’s thermostat to 120°F is recommended for balancing safety, comfort, and energy efficiency. This setting is hot enough for most household needs and can reduce water heating costs by 4% to 22%, or approximately 3% to 5% for every 10°F reduction. Insulating older water tanks with an insulation blanket and wrapping hot water pipes minimizes heat loss, ensuring hot water reaches its destination, especially in unheated areas.
For gas dryers, cleaning the lint trap before every load improves air circulation for efficient drying. Drying full loads instead of multiple smaller ones maximizes efficiency, and selecting lower heat settings when appropriate can reduce gas consumption. When cooking with a gas stove, using pots and pans that match the burner size ensures the flame efficiently heats the cookware, preventing heat from escaping around the sides. Keeping lids on pots while cooking traps heat and moisture, accelerating cooking and reducing gas. Avoiding unnecessary preheating of the oven also conserves gas.
Sealing Your Home Against Heat Loss
Preventing heat from escaping through your home’s structure is key to lowering gas bills. Adequate insulation in attics, walls, and floors acts as a thermal barrier, retaining heat indoors during colder months. Properly insulated attics alone can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20% by minimizing heat transfer between your living space and the outside environment.
Addressing drafts around windows and doors is important. Applying weatherstripping and caulk to seal gaps prevents air leaks. For instance, a 1/8-inch gap around a door can allow as much air to escape as a small window opened halfway. Window treatments like cellular shades, thermal curtains, or shutters provide additional insulation, trapping air and insulating. Keeping your chimney flue damper closed when the fireplace is not in use is important, as an open damper can allow warm air to escape, accounting for up to 8% of home heating costs.
Adopting Energy-Saving Habits
Incorporating simple behavioral changes into your daily routine reduces gas consumption. Taking shorter showers directly lessens the demand for hot water, decreasing gas use. Turning off pilot lights on gas fireplaces or outdoor grills when not in use eliminates continuous gas consumption.
Strategically opening and closing blinds and curtains can utilize natural sunlight for warmth during the day, while closing them at night helps to retain heat inside. This passive heating and insulation method reduces the workload on your heating system. Closing vents and doors to unused rooms concentrates heat in the living areas, optimizing warmth distribution and preventing heating unoccupied spaces.