With the weather starting to cool down (except for maybe us here in the desert), it’s time to start considering how to keep our gas bill down during the fall and make some good habits into the winter. Here are three easy tips to keep that bill down this fall.
Your Thermostat is Your Friend
The rule of thumb is that you’ll save about 3% on your bill for every degree you turn your thermostat down, so keep that in mind as you’re adjusting the temperature in your house or living space. It’s up to you to figure out what temperature you’re comfortable with, but if you can handle wearing an extra layer or using an extra blanket, go for it. If you turn the thermostat down 10 degrees when you go to work, and again before you go to bed, you could save up to 14% on your bill.
Make Your Rooms Efficient
If you have south-facing windows, open the curtains to let natural heat in during the day. Keep doors and windows closed so the heat doesn’t circulate, putting less work on your heater. Make sure your vents are free and clear of rugs and furniture, and close the vents in seldom-used rooms.
It’s Also the Little Things
It’s not just your heater that can turn your bill into a monster. Turning your water heater to 115-120 degrees can make a difference even without you noticing too much. If you have a fireplace, close the damper. Because the heat rises, it’s not a good idea to use your fireplace at all since it just ends up dispersing upwards. Besides, if you have a wood-burning stove, you’ll be cutting down on pollution as well.
How are you going to cut down on your heating bills this fall? Like us on Facebook and tell us!
