How to Save on Home Heating Costs as Natural Gas Goes Up

A natural gas furnace is the most cost-effective way to heat your home, particularly if you live in a cool climate. However, Reuters says the cost of natural gas is anticipated to rise dramatically during the winter heating season. Find out why the price of natural gas is getting more expensive and how to save on gas heating bills this year. 

Why Is Natural Gas Getting More Expensive? 

Every year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) releases a winter fuel outlook. Energy costs have already gotten more expensive around the world, according to Reuters. This is because the need for energy is now greater than the available supply. 

How More Expensive Natural Gas Prices Will Affect You 

Higher natural gas prices will impact you as you switch on your heating system and receive utility bills. Here’s about how much it will impact the average household during the six-month winter heating season, as compared to 2020. 

• Average heating bill for 2020 season: $573, or about $95.50 monthly. 
• Average heating bill for 2021 season: $746, or about $124.33 monthly. That’s about a 30% increase from the previous year. 

4 Tips for Saving on Heating Costs 

Compared to other fuel sources, a natural gas heating system is still the most affordable and most efficient way to heat your home. And there are several steps you can take to you can do to keep your heating costs affordable this winter. Here’s how you can spend less on your gas heating bill. 

1. Request a Furnace Tune-Up 

Schedule furnace maintenance from an HVAC professional before the heating season begins. You’ll get less expensive than fixing your heating system later on in the year. 

This service consists of: 

• Testing and cleaning gas burners for proper operation. 
• Checking the heat exchanger for cracks to prevent deadly carbon monoxide leaks. 
• Monitoring warm air flow and blower operation to ensure peak performance. 
• Inspecting the gas valve to make sure fuel supply pressure is correct. 
• Inspecting electrical parts for problems. 

• Checking your thermostat to ensure it’s working correctly. 

Having your HVAC system serviced each year helps control energy use, reduces the chance of breakdowns and may even make your heating system last longer. Plus, many manufacturers require it to keep your valuable warranty valid. This warranty shields you if a major component, like the heat exchanger, fails on your home’s heating system during a specific period. 

We know you’re busy and that it’s easy to forget about scheduling your furnace tune-ups. That’s why we provide membership programs created to make your life easier while helping you save money. 

With our best-value Maintenance+™, you’ll enjoy regular preventive maintenance plus: 

• Energy savings up to 30%** 

• Guaranteed 24/7/365 priority service 
• 15% discount on repairs and air purification products 
• 100% guarantee on repairs for one year* 
• Lifetime thermostat warranty 

• Home Health Report Card and 29-point visual check on each visit 

2. Install a Smart Thermostat 

HVAC professionals advise updating your programmable thermostat with one that’s “smart” to save money on your energy bill. This means it connects to Wi-Fi, so you can control your HVAC system from your smartphone or tablet from bed in the morning, or just about anywhere in the world. You’ll receive real-time updates on how much energy you’re using. 

The best smart thermostats for central heating have: 

• Wi-Fi capabilities with an app to control it from a smartphone or computer. 
• A color screen that shows the current temperature and humidity levels at home, as well as outside weather forecasts so you can adapt accordingly. 
• Eco mode settings that automatically adjust the thermostat to save you more money. 
• Smart programming that makes an energy-efficient heating routine based on your temperature preferences. 

Your energy company probably offers valuable rebates for installing a smart thermostat, since they’re ENERGY STAR® qualified. These rebates may cover a portion or even the complete cost of the thermostat, so check with your natural gas supplier before you buy one. 

3. Choose Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings 

Your smart thermostat will handle making an efficient schedule that likely reduces your heating bill, but you’ll need to program it for a few days so it can learn your temperature preferences. We recommend following these winter thermostat settings from the U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR. 

When You’re at Home 

Your thermostat should be set to 68 degrees for the greatest energy savings. If this feels too cold, these ways to save can help keep your home feeling warmer and your heating bill under control: 

• Use window treatments that block heat loss, such as honeycomb shades, plantation shutters or window blankets, which are thick quilts. 
• Open south-facing window treatments during the daytime to let in natural heat from the sun. Keep your windows covered at night to keep out cold air. 
• Cover drafty windows with plastic sheeting to prevent air leaks. Consider getting energy-saving windows later on, like double pane with insulating gas or triple pane. 
• Set ceiling fans to counterclockwise so they can disperse warm air that collects near the ceiling. 

• Have an HVAC professional seal heating ducts. This is often done through putting metallic tape on gaps and helps you keep more hot air from your heating system. 
• Add weather stripping on windows and doors. Weather stripping is very good at blocking cold air drafts and keeping warm air where it belongs. 
• Make sure heating vents are unrestricted. Closing vents in rooms you don’t use is a bad idea since it can affect air balance and make your furnace work harder. Also, try not to block vents as this affects how heating systems distribute warm air. 
• Consider installing more ceiling insulation, since your home leaks a lot of hot air through the attic. 
• Book an energy audit through your natural gas company. This service is usually free and provides valuable advice on how to save money and lower your heating bill. It may help you identify how much insulation you need to add, find air leaks and more. 

While You’re Sleeping 

The National Sleep Foundation says most people do best in a cold room. During the winter, that can range from 60-67 degrees, depending on your personal preferences. 

Try experimenting with your thermostat for about a week to choose the right temperature. Start with the temperature set at 67 degrees and lowering it by a degree each evening. You might feel chilly initially, but you’ll probably be surprised how comfy you can be at a cooler temperature. And how much it can affect your heating bill! 

While You’re Gone 

If you don’t have any pets, you can turn down your thermostat as cool as 50 degrees. This keeps your heating system running and your pipes from freezing. But don’t be tempted to jack up your furnace when you get back, instead of setting it back to 68. This won’t warm your home up faster. It’ll just drive up your heating bill and result in wear and tear on your furnace. 

If you have pets, you can follow the Department of Energy’s suggestion to turn your thermostat back 7-10 degrees while you’re gone. Doing this while you’re at work can save you up to 10% on heating bills every year. 

4. Upgrade Your Furnace 

Replacing your old, inefficient heating system is one of the best ways to save on heating bills. A furnace’s efficiency is measured in AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Simply put, this rating measures how efficiently your furnace uses fuel for heat. 

Modern furnaces have an average AFUE of 95%, while older models only attain around 80%. Getting a new furnace that’s 15% more efficient can result in big savings on your heating bills over your furnace’s lifetime. While your exact utility bill reductions will vary based on area weather and your temperature preferences, these savings could help your primary heating source pay for itself in time through a lower natural gas bill. 

When to Begin Thinking about Furnace Installation 

Here are a few other indications that it’s time to begin thinking about furnace installation: 

1. Age. Most furnaces last between 15-20 years with adequate maintenance. If yours is close to this age, you should begin preparation for replacement to prevent being without heat when your furnace goes out for good. 

2. Repair frequency and cost. If your furnace repair bills are greater than half the cost of a new system, we suggest buying a new one. This also applies if repairs are becoming more consistent. 

3. Reduced comfort and pricey heating bills. As your furnace gets older, it needs more energy. You’ll see this through your home being less cozy and your heating bill being higher. 

4. Weird noises. It’s normal for your furnace to make some noise as it turns on and off. But some sounds, especially rattling, banging or screeching, are an obvious sign that something’s wrong. Based on the seriousness of the issue, it may just be better to buy a new furnace. 

5. Yellow burner flames. Your furnace’s burner flames should always be blue. Yellow flames suggest your furnace is using more gas and may even be generating carbon monoxide, which can be deadly in large doses. Furnaces leaking this dangerous gas should be taken out right away. 

We realize that furnace replacement is a big investment. It can also be a shock that you’re not fully ready for. That’s why we offer the Service Experts Advantage Program™. This stress-free subscription program is revolutionizing home comfort by covering everything, with no big up-front cost or down payment required. 

For only one reasonable monthly fee, you’ll get: 

• A new, high-efficiency furnace, as well as valuable manufacturer’s rebates 
• Expert installation at no extra cost 
• Guaranteed 24/7/365 priority service 
• Repairs, labor, parts and air filters at no extra charge* 
• 15% discount on air purification products 
• Lifetime thermostat warranty 
• Home Health™ Report Card and 29-point visual check on each appointment 

• Annual preventive maintenance and energy savings up to 30%** 

Save More on Heating Costs with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 

Although natural gas prices are on the rise, there are many ways to lower your heating bill with our Expert assistance. To begin, contact us at 866-397-3787 for an appointment and we’ll take a look at what you can do to save money this winter! 

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*For HVAC Service Memberships, certain warranty exclusions and limitations apply. See your signed agreement for full terms and conditions. For the Advantage Program™, please see your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. Lease with approved credit; visit ServiceExperts.com for details. **Potential savings may vary depending on age and condition of equipment, personal lifestyle, system settings, equipment maintenance, and installation of equipment and duct system.