The average home in the United States spends around $62 a month on natural gas in 2021. With prices forecasted to increase next year, what are some simple ways to keep your gas bill down.
Check Window and Door Seals
Leaky windows and doors can let unwanted cold air into your home and warm air out. Making sure your windows and doors seal properly and keep the air where you want it can make a big impact on your gas bill. Fixing leaks is pretty simple, just pick up some weather strips and caulking, locate the leak and make sure it’s sealed up.
Replace Your Air Filter
You’ve heard it before, replace the air filter in your heating and air conditioning system every three months, but it really does make a big difference. A clean filter allows air to flow properly through your house, allowing your system to work more efficiently and saves you money. You’ll also have cleaner air in your home and it will extend the life of your HVAC system. It’s easy to forget, so set a reminder in your calendar or if you have a smart thermostat some of them will even send you a reminder.
Get a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to program times and temperatures for your heating and cooling systems. Lowering your thermostat by just 7 degrees for just eight hours a day can reduce your gas bill by as much as 10%. With a smart thermostat you can lower the temperature while you’re at work or while you sleep and have it automatically adjust up when you are home and awake. You can also control your thermostat from your smartphone. Some even use geofencing which can track when your home and when you’re away and automatically adjust accordingly.
Another advantage to a smart thermostat is you can place remote sensors around your home. These can sense when you are in a room and what the temperature of that room is, instead of using the temperature your thermostat reads. The thermostat on your wall may be affected by things like sunlight and drafts which can give faulty temperature readings. Remote sensors will give more accurate readings and keep your HVAC running more efficiently and keep your home more comfortable.
Lower the Temperature on Your Hot Water Heater
Most people don’t think much about their hot water heater, but if you have the temperature set too high you could be wasting money. Somewhere between 130 degrees and 140 degrees is an ideal temperature. Try out a few settings and see what is right for you.
Get a Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater only heats water when you demand it, whereas a standard water heater is constantly heating water so it is ready when you need it. A tankless water heater can be up to 34% more efficient (energy.gov) which can save you a lot of money. The energy savings could be even greater if you install multiple tankless heaters near each hot water outlet. There is an upfront cost, as tankless heaters cost more than a standard water heater, but the savings can far out weigh the costs.
Switch Out Your Showerhead
Switching to a low-flow showerhead not only saves you on your water bill, but will also save you on your gas bill. Using less hot water means your water heater doesn’t have to work as hard and thus uses less natural gas.
Fix Your Ductwork
Air ducts with holes, clogs, or leaks could be costing you on your gas bill. Bad ducting can reduce your HVAC’s efficiency by 20%.