Every time the furnace kicks on, it is consuming more gas, which could be why you’re seeing such high bills. The higher you have your thermostat set, the harder your furnace is going to have to work to heat the home and maintain the set temperature. If you’re searching for how to lower your gas bill, consider lowering your thermostat. Setting your thermostat too high can lead to more expensive bills. Solution: Keep up with regular system maintenance to ensure your appliances are operating efficiently. It is also advisable to contact an HVAC company to perform a yearly tune-up for your system before the weather gets cold. Keep your gas dryer vent clean to help it operate more efficiently, and aim to replace your furnace filters regularly (every 2 months for fiberglass filters or every 6 months for pleated filters). Veggeberg explains, “Changing an air filter or wiping down dust and debris from your unit can improve your system efficiency by as much as 20 percent.” Neglecting basic furnace maintenance tasks can lead to poor efficiency and increased gas consumption.Įven if your furnace and other natural gas appliances don’t need to be replaced, improper maintenance may be contributing to the natural gas price increase you’re seeing. Solution: While you cannot change the fact that you need heat during the winter, you can try to use less natural gas by setting your thermostat a few degrees lower than you typically do. Still, it can be a bit of a shock when you open a bill after your furnace kicked on during the first cold snap of the season. In this case, it’s also normal for your natural gas usage to decrease substantially during the spring and summer months when your gas furnace isn’t needed. If you have a gas furnace, seeing a gas bill increase during the cold, winter months is normal and generally not cause to rush to read your meter and ensure it isn’t malfunctioning. RELATED: Does Unplugging Appliances Save Electricity? Yes-and See the 8 Biggest Energy Hogs Spikes in usage will be reflected in higher monthly bills. Solution: Turn your thermostat down a few degrees, use alternative heating sources (such as a fireplace), or look for a long-term fixed-rate plan to eliminate surprise increases. If you signed up for a variable-rate plan with your fuel provider, then you’re going to be feeling the effects of all these occurrences. Unfortunately, natural gas prices can fluctuate and have been trending upwards for several reasons, including increased demand, international turmoil, weather disruptions, and more. Often, an increase in gas bill payment amounts boils down to the cost of natural gas. Higher natural gas rates can lead to higher bills. Solution: Hire a professional to perform a home energy audit to identify leaks or gaps in your insulation, and follow their recommendations to better insulate your home. Fixing insulation is also typically a much lower investment than fixing windows,” Veggeberg explains. Windows only account for an average of 15 percent of a home’s surface area. “Most homeowners feel drafty windows and think they are the biggest cause of high energy bills or an uncomfortable home, but it’s more often low insulation levels. This problem can also lead to higher electric bills, so it is something just about everyone will want to address to decrease their utility costs. The increased runtime will require more fuel, leaving you with a higher natural gas bill. If your home doesn’t have enough insulation, then warm air can escape during the winter, making your furnace work harder to achieve your desired temperature. RELATED: 7 Ways to Get Help from Federal, State, and Local Government for Improved Energy Efficiency Inadequate insulation can cause a furnace to work harder than necessary. Solution: Upgrade to a new furnace and/or water heater. Another option is to consult with your HVAC company about the prospect of converting to an electric furnace. If you’re going to purchase a new furnace, water heater, or other appliances, look for ones with an Energy Star seal that will offer greater efficiency and a lower gas cost per month. “Upgrading this may be an investment, but homeowners can see savings (and greater comfort in their homes) almost immediately,” Veggeberg tells Bob Vila. The same can be true for an outdated natural gas water heater. Heating systems lose efficiency as they age, meaning an old furnace will need to work harder (and use more natural gas) to maintain the desired temperature than was necessary even a few years earlier. Max Veggeberg, CEO of Tetra, a heating and cooling company, explains that “an aging boiler, furnace, or water heater that can no longer keep up with the comfort demands of the home” is one of the most common causes for a high gas bill.
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