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 cold climate. However, Reuters reports the price of natural gas is expected to rise significantly during the winter heating season. Learn 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 already gotten more expensive globally, according to Reuters. This is because the demand for energy is now greater than the available supply. 

How Higher Natural Gas Prices Will Affect You 

Higher natural gas prices will impact you as you switch on your heating system and get utility bills. Here’s about how much it will affect 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 things you can do to keep your heating costs down this winter. Here’s how you can save on your gas heating bill. 

1. Request a Furnace Tune-Up 

Request furnace maintenance from an HVAC professional before the heating season begins. You’ll get more than repairing your heating system later on in the year. 

This service includes: 

• Testing and cleaning gas burners for correct operation. 
• Checking the heat exchanger for cracks to avoid deadly carbon monoxide leaks. 
• Tracking warm air flow and blower operation to guarantee peak performance. 
• Examining the gas valve to ensure fuel supply pressure is correct. 
• Checking electrical parts for problems. 

• Checking your thermostat to make sure it’s working correctly. 

Having your HVAC system maintained each year helps manage energy use, reduces 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 protects you if a major part, like the heat exchanger, fails on your home’s heating system during a certain period. 

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

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

• Energy savings up to 30%** 

• Guaranteed 24/7/365 priority service 
• No trip or overtime costs—ever 
• 15% discount on repairs and air purification solutions 
• 100% guarantee on repairs for one year* 
• Lifetime thermostat warranty 

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

2. Install 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 in the morning, or just about anywhere in the world. You’ll get 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 adapt accordingly. 
• Eco mode settings that instantly set the thermostat to save you more money. 
• Smart programming that creates an energy-efficient heating routine based on your temperature preferences. 

Your energy company likely has valuable rebates for adding 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 purchase one. 

3. Select Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings 

Your smart thermostat will handle creating an efficient schedule that potentially reduces your heating bill, but you’ll need to program it for a few days so it can pick up on your temperature preferences. We suggest 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 maximum energy savings. If this feels too cold, these ways to save can help keep your home feeling more comfortable and your heating bill in check: 

• Use 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 daytime 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 prevent air leaks. Consider getting energy-saving windows in the future, like double pane with insulating gas or triple pane. 
• Set ceiling fans to reverse so they can disperse warm air that collects near the ceiling. 

• Have an HVAC professional seal heating ducts. This is often done through adding 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 should be. 
• Make sure heating vents are open. Shutting off vents in rooms you don’t use is a bad idea since it can impact 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 extra 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 determine how much insulation you need to add, locate 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 vary from 60-67 degrees, depending on your personal preferences. 

Try testing your thermostat for about a week to find the right temperature. Begin with the temperature set at 67 degrees and decreasing it by a degree each night. You might feel cold initially, but you’ll probably be surprised how comfy you can be at a lower temperature. And how much it can affect your heating bill! 

While You’re Away 

If you don’t have any pets, you can set your thermostat as low as 50 degrees. This keeps your heating system running and your pipes from freezing. But don’t be tempted to crank up your furnace when you get back, instead of switching it back to 68. This won’t heat your home up quicker. It’ll just drive up your heating bill and cause wear and tear on your furnace. 

If you have pets, you can use the Department of Energy’s advice to set your thermostat back 7-10 degrees while you’re away. Doing this while you’re at the office can save you up to 10% on heating bills every year. 

4. Upgrade Your Furnace 

Updating your outdated, 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. 

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

When to Begin Thinking about Furnace Installation 

Here are a few other signs 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 start preparation for replacement to avoid being without heat when your furnace goes out for good. 

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

3. Decreased comfort and pricey heating bills. As your furnace ages, it needs more energy. You’ll see this through your home being less comfortable and your heating bill being higher. 

4. Weird noises. It’s normal for your furnace to make some sound as it turns on and off. But some sounds, specifically rattling, banging or screeching, are an obvious sign that something’s wrong. Based on the severity 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 mean your furnace is using more gas and may even be creating carbon monoxide, which can be deadly in large doses. Furnaces seeping this dangerous gas should be taken out right away. 

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

For only one low monthly fee, you’ll receive: 

• A new, high-efficiency furnace, plus valuable manufacturer’s rebates 
• Expert installation at no extra cost 
• Guaranteed 24/7/365 priority service 

• No trip or overtime charges—ever 
• Repairs, labour, parts and air filters at no added charge* 
• 15% discount on air purification products 
• Lifetime thermostat warranty 
• Home Health™ Report Card and 29-point visual check on every appointment 

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

Save More on Heating Costs with Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts 

Although natural gas prices are on the rise, there are lots of ways to lower your heating bill with our Expert assistance. To begin, call us at 226-773-3357 for an appointment and we’ll take a look at what you can do to spend less 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.