How to Save on Home Heating Costs as Natural Gas Increases

A natural gas furnace is the most efficient way to heat your home, especially if you live in a cool climate. However, Reuters says the cost of natural gas is expected to rise dramatically during the winter heating season. Find out why the price of natural gas is going up and how to save on gas heating bills this year.

Why Is Natural Gas Getting More Expensive?

Each year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) releases a winter fuel outlook. Energy costs have previously gone up around the world, according to Reuters. This is due to the fact the need for energy is now higher than the available supply.

How Higher Natural Gas Prices Will Affect You

Higher natural gas prices will affect you as you switch on your heating system and receive utility bills. Here's about how much it will affect the average household during the six-month winter heating season, in contrast 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 a few 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. Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up

Request furnace maintenance from an HVAC professional before the heating season begins. You'll get more efficiency and it's cheaper than fixing your heating system later on in the year.

This service includes:

Testing and cleaning gas burners for correct operation.
Examining the heat exchanger for cracks to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide leaks.
Monitoring warm air flow and blower operation to guarantee peak performance.
Examining the gas valve to make sure fuel supply pressure is correct.
Inspecting electrical parts for problems.
Checking your thermostat to make sure it’s working correctly.

Having your HVAC system maintained each year helps control energy use, decreases the likelihood of breakdowns and may even make your heating system last longer. Plus, most manufacturers require it to keep your valuable warranty applicable. This warranty shields you if a major part, 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 booking your furnace tune-ups. That's why we offer membership programs designed to make your life better while helping you save money.

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

2. Get a Smart Thermostat

HVAC professionals advise replacing 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 when you wake up, 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 capability 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 adjust accordingly.
Eco mode settings that instantly set the thermostat to save you more money.
Smart programming that creates an energy-efficient heating schedule based on your temperature preferences.

Your energy company probably has valuable rebates for adding a smart thermostat, since they're ENERGY STAR® qualified. These rebates may cover a portion or even the full cost of the thermostat, so check with your natural gas supplier before you purchase one.

3. Select Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings

Your smart thermostat will take care of making an efficient schedule that potentially reduces your heating bill, but you'll need to set it for a few days so it can learn your temperature preferences. We recommend using 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 chilly, these ways to save can help keep your home feeling warmer and your heating bill in check:

Choose window treatments that block heat loss, like as honeycomb shades, plantation shutters or window blankets, which are thick quilts.
Open south-facing window treatments during the day to let in natural heat from the sun. Keep your windows covered at night to seal out cold air.
Cover drafty windows with plastic sheeting to stop 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 gathers 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 great at preventing cold air drafts and keeping warm air where it belongs.
Make sure heating vents are open. 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 adding additional ceiling insulation, since your home loses a lot of hot air through the attic.
Schedule an energy audit through your natural gas company. This service is often 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, locate air leaks and more.

While You're Asleep

The National Sleep Foundation says most people sleep 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 ideal temperature. Begin 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 amazed how comfortable 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 set your thermostat as cool as 50 degrees. This keeps your heating system operating and your pipes from icing. But don't be tempted to jack up your furnace when you get back, instead of setting it back to 68. This won't heat your home up quicker. 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 advice to turn your thermostat back 7-10 degrees while you're away. Doing this while you're at work can save you up to 10% on heating bills each year.

4. Upgrade Your Furnace

Updating your old, inefficient heating system is one of the smartest ways to save on heating bills. A furnace's efficiency is measured in AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. In other words, this rating measures how efficiently your furnace uses fuel for heat.

Newer furnaces have an average AFUE of 95%, while older models only attain around 80%. Buying a new furnace that's 15% more efficient can lead to major savings on your heating bills over your furnace's lifetime. While your exact utility bill savings 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 Considering Furnace Installation

Here are a few other signals that it's time to start considering furnace installation:

Age. Most furnaces run between 15-20 years with proper maintenance. If yours is near this age, you should start preparation for replacement to avoid being without heat when your furnace breaks down for good.
Repair frequency and cost. If your furnace repair bills are more than half the price of a new system, we suggest buying a new one. This also is applicable if repairs are becoming more frequent.
Reduced comfort and pricey heating bills. As your furnace gets older, it uses more energy. You'll notice this through your home being less cozy and your heating bill being higher.
Odd noises. It's normal for your furnace to make some noise as it turns on and off. But some sounds, particularly rattling, banging or screeching, are a clear sign that something's awry. Based on the severity of the problem, it may just be better to buy a new furnace.
Yellow burner flames. Your furnace's burner flames should always be blue. Yellow flames suggest your furnace is consuming more fuel and may even be creating carbon monoxide, which can be lethal in large doses. Furnaces leaking this hazardous gas should be taken out right away.

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Lifetime thermostat warranty
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Save Money on Heating Costs with Coastal Service Experts

Although natural gas prices are on the rise, there are many ways to reduce your heating bill with our Expert assistance. To get started, call us at 912-208-2399 for an appointment and we'll take a look at what you can do to spend less money this winter!

*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.