Do you rely on natural gas for at least a portion of your energy
needs? In these hard economic times, you need to be sure you are
operating your gas furnace and appliances with utmost efficiency. This
article will tell you how to save energy in your home and lower your
bills.
Change your Furnace Filter
Changing your
furnace filter on schedule will help you have a clean home, help reduce
allergies, and obtain the maximum heat possible from your furnace.
Having an annual checkup of your furnace is important for reasons of
safety and efficiency. The heat chamber will be checked for holes that
could release poisonous carbon monoxide into your home. The humidifier
operation will be checked; with the proper humidity, you will be
comfortable at a lower temperature. The thermostat operation will be
checked to ensure the proper temperature is maintained. The air-fuel
ratio will be checked.
Reduce Your Shower Pressure
You
can achieve water heating savings of 25 to 50 percent, by installation
of low-flow shower heads. A more economical solution is to install a
valve between the shower head and the pipe, which will give you complete
regulation of the water pressure. Lowering your water heater
temperature from 140 to 120 degrees will reduce the water heating cost 6
to 10 percent. It also lowers the risk of being scalded in the shower.
An older water heater, without adequate insulation, can benefit from
installation of a supplemental insulation kit. A damper on a
fireplace is easily forgotten. Leaving it open when not in use can lose
tremendous amounts of heated air. Always close the damper securely after
the fire is completely out.




