How to Save on Home Heating Costs as Natural Gas Increases

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 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 Going Up? 

Each year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) produces 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 turn 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 last year. 

4 Secrets for Saving on Heating Costs 

Compared to other fuel sources, a natural gas heating system is still the cheapest 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 

Schedule 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 consists of: 

• Testing and cleaning gas burners for proper operation. 
• Examining the heat exchanger for cracks to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide leaks. 
• Monitoring warm air flow and blower operation to ensure peak performance. 
• Inspecting the gas valve to ensure fuel supply pressure is right. 
• Inspecting electrical parts for problems. 

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

Having your HVAC system maintained each year helps manage energy use, decreases the likelihood of breakdowns and may even make your heating system last longer. Plus, many manufacturers require it to keep your valuable warranty valid. This warranty protects you if a major part, such as 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 overlook booking your furnace tune-ups. That’s why we provide membership programs designed to make your life better 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. 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 capabilities with an app to manage 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 routine based on your temperature preferences. 

Your energy company likely offers 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 buy one. 

3. Choose Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings 

Your smart thermostat will take care of creating an efficient schedule that likely 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 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, 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, such as double pane with insulating gas or triple pane. 
• Set ceiling fans to reverse so they can disperse warm air that gathers 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 great at preventing cold air drafts and keeping warm air where it belongs. 
• Make sure heating vents are unrestricted. 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 impacts how heating systems distribute warm air. 
• Consider adding more ceiling insulation, since your home leaks a lot of hot air through the attic. 
• Schedule 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 determine how much insulation you need to add, find 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 vary from 60-67 degrees, depending on your personal preferences. 

Try experimenting with your thermostat for about a week to find the ideal temperature. Begin with the temperature set at 67 degrees and decreasing it by a degree every evening. You may feel cold at first, but you’ll likely be amazed how comfortable 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 operating and your pipes from freezing. But don’t be tempted to crank up your furnace when you get back, instead of setting it back to 68. This won’t heat your home up faster. It’ll just increase your heating bill and result in wear and tear on your furnace. 

If you have pets, you can use the Department of Energy’s suggestion to set 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 outdated, inefficient heating system is one of the smartest ways to save on heating bills. A furnace’s efficiency is calculated 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 old models only attain around 80%. Getting a new furnace that’s 15% more efficient can lead to major savings on your heating bills over your furnace’s life. While your exact utility bill reductions will vary based on area weather and your temperature preferences, these cost savings could help your primary heating source pay for itself over time through a cheaper natural gas bill. 

When to Begin Thinking about Furnace Installation 

Here are a few other signs that it’s time to begin considering furnace installation: 

1. Age. Most furnaces run between 15-20 years with adequate maintenance. If yours is close to this age, you should begin 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 more than half the price of a new system, we recommend getting a new one. This also applies if repairs are becoming more consistent. 

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

4. Unusual noises. It’s normal for your furnace to make some noise as it turns on and off. But some noises, particularly 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 big doses. Furnaces leaking this dangerous gas should be replaced right away. 

We understand 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 worry-free subscription program is transforming home comfort by covering everything, with no big up-front cost or down payment necessary. 

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

• A new, high-efficiency furnace, plus valuable manufacturer’s rebates 
• Expert installation at no extra charge 
• 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 every visit 

• 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 lots of ways to lower your heating bill with our Expert assistance. To get started, contact us at 866-397-3787 for an appointment and we’ll see 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.