Natural Gas

It is coming up to that time of year again, where the demand for natural gas is going to start pushing up the prices just in time for winter. For those of us that use natural gas for heat or hot water, this means that it is going to be another very expensive winter.

Last year I was paying $400-$700/mo for natural gas, this year those figures will be even higher. So, I have done a little research to see if there are ways to save money on natural gas. Here are some tips that I am going to use to keep my natural gas costs under control this winter:

Keep Warm Air Inside Your Home and Cold Air Out

• Go through you home and find any small holes or cracks that warm air can escape or cold air enter the home.
• Caulk the wooden sill where the house sits on the foundation. Also, insulate the rim joist (the joist that runs around the outside of the home that sits on the foundation.)
• Caulk where dryer vents and fan covers pass through the wall.
• Caulk where plumbing pipes and telephone wires enter the house.
• Caulk where any two different outside materials meet.
• Caulk where the fireplace chimney meets the siding.
• Use styrofoam or foam rubber gaskets on all outlets and lightswitches located on outside walls.
• Seal air leaks into the attic by weatherstripping around edges of the attic door to reduce warm air leaking into the attic from the rest of your home.
• Insulate the back of the attic door (or hatch) with a piece of fiberglass or rigid board insulation.
• Make sure that you have adequate insulation in the attic (at least R30), if not add insulation.

Furnaces & Boilers

• Have your furnace or boiler serviced by a qualified contractor before the start of the heating season.
• Change or clean your furnace filter monthly.
• Vacuum around furnace motor and blower fan regularly.
• Keep heat registers, cold air return grills and radiators clear of furniture, carpeting, drapes, or any other items that may block them.
• Upgrade to a more efficient boiler or furnace - this is very expensive, but could save you quite a bit on natural gas.

Thermostats

• Install programmable thermostat, so that you can program a lower temperature during the day when you are at work or at night when you are asleep.
• Set your thermostat for 68 degrees during the day and as low as you feel comfortable at night.
• Set the thermostat to 55 degrees when you are going to be away from home for several days.

Fireplaces

• Make sure to close the damper when the fireplace is not in use - otherwise it will draw warm air up through through the chimney.
• Install a heat-circulating device in the fireplace to keep more of the fires heat inside the home. We did this toward the end of last year and started saving about 30% on natural gas.

Hot Water Usage

• Set your water heater to 120 degrees unless you are using a dishwasher that doesn't have a preheat mode.
• Turn your water heater to vacation mode when you go on vacation.
• Insulate the hot water pipes if they are in an unheated spaces (basement, crawlspace.)
• Drain a half-bucket of water from the bottom of your water heater every few months to remove impurities, rust, and sludge that can collect at the bottom.
• Replace or repair leaking valves.
• Install a low-flow shower head.
• Install a flow restrictor, which is slightly different from a low-flow shower head. A flow restrictor will decrease the amount of water flowing through the tap and save you energy.
• Use the correct setting on your washer for the size load you are washing.

Windows and Doors

• Use caulking around windows and doors to prevent air leakage.
• Install weatherstripping on windows and doors where you feel a cold draft.
• Install insulating window shades on windows that still feel drafty.
• Use draft blockers under doors and windows, if necessary.
• Close draperies at night to keep heat in and cold air out.
• Repair or replace cracked or broken window panes.
• Open blinds during the day to let the sunshine in.
• If you are replacing your windows, install the most energy efficient windows that you can afford.

Obviously most of use can't replace our furnace/boiler or windows, but a lot of this tips can be completed very cheaply and in one weekend. Yet they will save you money on natural gas for the entire winter and possibly the next. I know that I am going to button down my house this fall so that I am not shocked by my natural gas bills this winter.  Find more great tips and information at Smart Energy Today.