Stay Warm This Winter Despite Natural Gas Rate Increases

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-11-07 11:46:00-05:00

Almost half of most people's utility bill goes to heating or cooling their home. Natural gas prices are expected to increase significantly this winter. Here are a few tips to reduce your monthly utility bill.

10 Tips That Cost Nothing but Your Time

  1. Call your gas utility and ask about "budget billing," which balances payments over the year.
  2. Wear a sweater and warm slippers while in the house.
  3. Set your temperature to a level that is comfortable when dressed warmly, and lower your thermostat 5 degrees while you sleep.
  4. Lower your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees and install low-flow water restrictors on your showerheads and faucets. Fix leaky faucets, especially hot water faucets.
  5. Replace or clean your furnace filter at least once every other month during the winter. Dirty or clogged filters make the furnace run more often.
  6. Use drapes, blinds, curtains or shutters on all windows to reduce heat loss through the glass. Open window coverings during sunny days and close them at night and on cloudy days.
  7. Close doors to rooms not being used to reduce the space in your home that needs to be heated, but don't close doors on rooms with water pipes that might freeze.
  8. Use kitchen and bathroom vent fans only as much as you need to during the winter. Along with removing cooking smells and moisture, they suck hot air out of your home.
  9. Move furniture, carpet and drapes away from heat registers and air returns, and rearrange your sitting area to put sofas and chairs along inside walls and away from drafty windows.
  10. Close the damper and the glass doors on your fireplace when you're not using it.

Low-cost Investments That Go a Long Way to Reducing Your Utility Bills

Apply caulking, weather stripping or expanding foam sealant to gaps around doors, windows and other openings like pipes and ducts.

Tape clear plastic sheets across your windows to prevent drafts and help keep heat inside your home.

Install a digital thermostat that regulates the heat to automatically raise and lower the heat, depending on the time of day. Digital thermostats are often easy to install, and sell for about $35 to $50.

Cover your water heater with an insulating blanket to keep water in the tank hotter longer. If you have a gas water heater, make sure not to cover the air intake valve.

Add insulation in the attic, basement and crawl space to bring it up to recommended levels.

Dangerous Things to Avoid

Electric space heaters can be expensive to use and deadly if left unattended.

Unventilated appliances can cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home. Gas, coal, kerosene or propane heaters and stoves should always be installed and checked by a certified contractor or the State Fire Marshal's office. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include: dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, irregular breathing and confusion.

If you think you may have the flu, but you feel better when you leave the house, carbon monoxide may be the problem. Leave the area and get help immediately if you think carbon monoxide may be the problem.

Help is Available

If you are having trouble paying your utility bills or don't think you can manage an increase over last year's payments, call the Wyoming Department of Family Services Weatherization and Energy Assistance program at 1-800-246-4221 to see if you qualify for help. Find more information online.

This material was prepared by AARP Wyoming with help from the Wyoming Department of Family Services Weatherization/LIEAP program and the Wyoming Public Service Commission's Office of Consumer Advocate.

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