Natural gas is by far the most common form of heating used in modern houses, it is preferred by most homeowners for its efficiency, accessibility, and also because it costs less than oil or electric heat. A growing number of water heaters are being run by it as well, due to the considerable savings they offer over electric heaters. In order to ensure a lower natural gas bill New Jersey customers should try these handy tricks.
The average Edison, NJ homeowner can expect that almost half of the monthly power costs will be accounted for by home temperature maintenance. In the summer, this means running an A/C, while in the winter, most residents rely on a trusty, gas furnace to keep their homes warm and cozy. Since hot air is not free, it makes sense to try to keep it from escaping. Heat travels up, so having sufficient insulation in the attic is a must.
Investing in a water heater which is run on natural gas instead of an electric one can help keep this part of one's power bill down by about 50 percent. Not only are they less expensive to operate, but they also recover hot water more quickly. Further efficiency and savings are provided if one installs an insulation kit to the heater, and by annually draining a bucket of water from the bottom of the unit to eliminate sediment and maximize efficiency.
Keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime is comfortable and affordable for most people. At bedtime, it can be turned down as much as another 10 degrees since it's easier to stay warm under one's bedding. Similarly, if the house will be empty in the day, it can be set low then as well. Programmable thermostats make timing the temperature easy and can help homeowners save hundreds of heating dollars every year.
Furnace filters should be changed every month, if they are dirty they prevent optimal airflow and make the furnace work harder. Older furnaces can also benefit from a yearly cleaning and tuning, to keep them running safely and efficiently. Once a furnace has reached an age of about 15 years, it should probably be replaced with a newer one in most cases.
Homes can benefit from the sun's low angles in the winter which permit solar heating through southward facing windows, by keeping curtains open in the day and bushes around these windows trimmed, it reduces the need to work the furnace as much. The use of storm doors, double-paned or storm windows, and weather stripping can also help keep heat inside.
Restricting use of bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans is another way to prevent heat loss in the home, as is keeping fireplace dampers shut when they are not being used, since a considerable amount of heat can escape up the chimney if this is not done. If there are any unoccupied rooms in the home, their vents and doors should be kept closed.
The water heater's thermostat should be left at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply limiting one's use of hot water can also keep down the gas bill. This can be done by using cold water for laundry, installing low-flow shower-heads and taking showers instead of baths.
The average Edison, NJ homeowner can expect that almost half of the monthly power costs will be accounted for by home temperature maintenance. In the summer, this means running an A/C, while in the winter, most residents rely on a trusty, gas furnace to keep their homes warm and cozy. Since hot air is not free, it makes sense to try to keep it from escaping. Heat travels up, so having sufficient insulation in the attic is a must.
Investing in a water heater which is run on natural gas instead of an electric one can help keep this part of one's power bill down by about 50 percent. Not only are they less expensive to operate, but they also recover hot water more quickly. Further efficiency and savings are provided if one installs an insulation kit to the heater, and by annually draining a bucket of water from the bottom of the unit to eliminate sediment and maximize efficiency.
Keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime is comfortable and affordable for most people. At bedtime, it can be turned down as much as another 10 degrees since it's easier to stay warm under one's bedding. Similarly, if the house will be empty in the day, it can be set low then as well. Programmable thermostats make timing the temperature easy and can help homeowners save hundreds of heating dollars every year.
Furnace filters should be changed every month, if they are dirty they prevent optimal airflow and make the furnace work harder. Older furnaces can also benefit from a yearly cleaning and tuning, to keep them running safely and efficiently. Once a furnace has reached an age of about 15 years, it should probably be replaced with a newer one in most cases.
Homes can benefit from the sun's low angles in the winter which permit solar heating through southward facing windows, by keeping curtains open in the day and bushes around these windows trimmed, it reduces the need to work the furnace as much. The use of storm doors, double-paned or storm windows, and weather stripping can also help keep heat inside.
Restricting use of bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans is another way to prevent heat loss in the home, as is keeping fireplace dampers shut when they are not being used, since a considerable amount of heat can escape up the chimney if this is not done. If there are any unoccupied rooms in the home, their vents and doors should be kept closed.
The water heater's thermostat should be left at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply limiting one's use of hot water can also keep down the gas bill. This can be done by using cold water for laundry, installing low-flow shower-heads and taking showers instead of baths.
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