4 Ways To Reduce Your Winter Natural Gas Bills
For many homeowners, opening the monthly gas bill during the cold winter months can be a nightmare. The cost of natural gas typically rises in the winter, and people use more of it to keep their homes warm and comfortable. You don't have to spend the winter shivering in a freezing house in order to reduce your gas bill- use the following tips to save money:
Make Sure Your Furnace Filter is Clean
A clogged or dirty air filter in your furnace dramatically reduces its efficiency, making it run longer in order to keep your home warm, thus leading to using more gas. You can solve this problem by making it a habit to look at your furnace's air filter regularly, and cleaning it when there is visible evidence of dust and debris.
If the air filter is extremely dirty or full of dust, it may be in your best interest to just replace it with a new one.
Purchase a Programmable Thermostat to Regulate When your Furnace Runs
A programmable thermostat can do wonders to help reduce your monthly gas bill in the winter. These devices can be purchased at just about any home improvement store, and they are easy to install. When you have a programmable thermostat you can set it for different temperatures for different times of the day.
If you are at work or out of the house for an extended time, you can set the thermostat to a lower temperature so your furnace is not running and heating your house for no reason.
Schedule a Heating System Tune Up Each Fall
A well-maintained heating system heats a home more efficiently, thus reducing the amount of natural gas used. It is a good idea to have your furnace and heating system tuned up by an experienced HVAC technician each fall to ensure that it is in proper running condition for the winter months. A full tune up will also include checking your air ducts, as air leaks can cause you to lose a substantial amount of heat.
Buy a High Efficiency Furnace
If your furnace is on its last legs, or if you live in an old home with an outdated furnace, you may be able to save a lot of money on your gas bills in the long run by replacing the unit with a high efficiency furnace. High efficiency models are designed to convert the energy from gas into heat at a substantially higher rate than standard furnaces, keeping your home comfortable warm at a lower cost than a standard furnace.
Before purchasing a high efficiency furnace check to see if there are any local, state, or federal rebates available to help offset the cost. To learn more, contact a company like Home Comfort Systems with any questions or concerns you have.
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