High Heating Bills Burning A Hole In Your Wallet? Try These Solutions
If your heating bills keep getting higher and you are struggling to pay the full amount, you need to call the gas company and consider making your home more efficient. There are a few ways you can make high winter heating bills more manageable, without having to invest a lot of money.
The cause of such high money costs to heat your own home may not entirely be your furnace, but other issues you have throughout the home. Here are a few things you want to do.
Call the Gas Company
Call the gas company and tell them you want to be put on a gas plan that has you pay moderate gas bills all year long, even when you aren't running your furnace. They'll look at the usage from the previous year and divide your annual gas costs by 12 months, and then you pay that average bill each month. This prevents you from having little to no gas bill in the summer and then huge bills in the winter.
Seal the Ducts
As much as 30 percent of air that your furnace is working hard to make is lost through holes and leaks in the ductwork. Keeping this air in the ducts so it reaches all areas of the house is going to help you keep the heat down, and use less energy. Have an HVAC professional come to the house and seal the ducts.
Film and Cover the Windows
Put a plastic film over the windows to stop air from seeping through, and to help prevent cold air from getting inside. You can do this on your own, and there are also applications that are like stickers, you peel them and press them around the outline of your window. Using thermal curtains can help keep the air inside the house as well.
Adjust the Thermostat
Set your thermostat a few degrees below where you normally keep it, and just wear an extra layer of clothing. Even a small adjustment can make a big difference when you want to keep heating costs down.
If you talk with the gas company before you fall behind on any heating bills and can avoid late payment fees or interest, they may allow you to set up a progressive payment plan for the future, even in the middle of the winter. That will spread your high heating bills out so you can pay some of the amount owed in the spring as well. These tips can help you save right away. Visit A-C Contractors Heating & Cooling for more information about heating and cooling.