CONSERVATION Ways to lower your gas bills

A home’s furnace or boiler uses 65 percent of the gas. Here are some tips to conserve energy and lower gas bills this fall and winter:

Thermostats

Set thermostats on lower temperatures during the winter. Less gas is used at lower settings, which results in lower gas bills. Setting the thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees at night can save 10 percent to 15 percent off annual heating costs. Homeowners can save more money by keeping the temperature at 58 degrees when at work or away from home for an extended time.

Furnaces

Newer, higher-efficiency furnaces use less natural gas than older, less-efficient furnaces.

Proper maintenance includes inspecting filters one time per month. If filters are clogged, clean or replace them.

Don’t build a fire when the furnace is on. A roaring blaze can actually waste energy by drawing heated air up the chimney. Turn down the thermostat when using the fireplace and close the damper after the ashes have cooled. Remember to open the damper before lighting a fire.

Insulation

Well-insulated homes require less natural gas for heating than poorly insulated homes. Larger homes require more gas for heating than smaller homes.

A well-insulated home may include caulking around fireplace mantles, mortar cracks in chimneys, inside windows, electrical receptacle boxes, exhaust fan openings, pipes leading to bathroom fixtures, cracks in basement walls, areas where foundations meet first floor plates and basement windows. To seal off drafts and reduce heat loss around windows, tape thin sheets of plastic to inside window frames with masking tape.

To block drafts, place a long, narrow beanbag, or a rug or towel, at the bottom of doors.

Apply self-adhesive foam strips to the backs of wall plates for electrical outlets and switches.

Use the card trick to determine if an outside door needs weather stripping; if a playing card fits in the crevice between the door and frame, apply stripping.

MAINTENANCE

Tips for heating and cooling systems:

Clean radiators, ductwork and vents. Dirt and dust can make heating systems less efficient.

Don’t block radiators and vents; move furniture and drapes away so air can circulate.

Close off unused space. It doesn’t make sense to heat or cool rooms that aren’t being used.

Use nature’s energy. In warm weather, close blinds or drapes to block sun from shining in windows and to keep your home cooler. Open windows on cooler days and nights. In cooler weather, open blinds or drapes when sun is facing windows, and then close them after sundown.

Source: Dominion East Ohio