ENERGY SAVING TIPS FOR PROPANE GAS

As the temperatures begin to drop, many people fret over their winter heating bills. Here are some energy saving tips to help take the worry out of the winter months and save you some money:

• Proper weatherstripping and caulking: If you have drafty windows or doors, you’ll want to make sure to seal them properly. You can  get all the supplies you need at your local hardware store. These areas can make your energy bill high by letting cold air in. You’ll also benefit from your efforts in the summer, by keeping the cool air inside. Consider this – a 1/8 inch gap around a standard size entry door is equivalent to a 5 1/2 inch hole in the wall. Well worth the effort to seal this up!
• Insulation: Have you looked at your roof after a snow storm? Did you notice areas that the snow melts quickly? Those areas need more insulation. It’s a nasty job, but not difficult if you have easy access. Energystar.gov recommends an R-38 or 10-14 inches of insulation.  Rated as the best home improvement return on investment, you can see a whopping 115% ROI. Again, this will help you in the summer as well.
• Make use of sunlight: During the day when the sun is shining, be sure all of you curtains and shades are open to let It naturally warm your home. Make sure you close them as the sun sets early in the winter. Installing insulated curtains and shades also helps to keep the heat inside during the evening. Make certain that the curtains don’t block heat ducts or radiators.
• Pay attention while cooking: This may seem small but wasted gas from cooking adds up over time. Make sure the flame doesn’t extend over the bottom of the pan while cooking. Turning the gas on high doesn’t always make it heat faster, and it’ll use more gas in the process. If your stove works off of a pilot light, it might be time to switch to an energy efficient electronic ignition stove.
• Service your heating system yearly: To make sure your appliances and heating system are working efficiently, have them serviced by a professional at least once a year. This includes your water heaters.
• Change system filters: A dirty heating system filter takes more energy to pull air through. Check the filters on your furnace and air returns to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced. This is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to save money and energy.
• Programmable thermostat: Install a thermostat that allows you to program a temperature change when you go to bed or leave the house. New smart thermostats, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, can be control via your phone or computer. No excuses for forgetting to turn back the thermostat now.
• Doing a lot of laundry? Try using high efficiency laundry detergent and use cold or warm water. If you can’t line dry your clothes, use your dryer consecutively. A warm dryer doesn’t use as much energy as one that is cold.

Stay warm and energy efficient this winter! If you need service on any of your central heating or propane water heating equipment, call us at 800-874-1975 or complete the form below: