10 Super Simple Tricks To Keep Your Gas Bill From Getting Out Of Hand
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With the price of gas around the world rising to record highs, it’s inevitable that most of us are going to have to pay a higher gas bill than we’re used to. It might feel like an uphill battle, especially if you’re already struggling to make ends meet. We’ve collected 10 super simple tricks to keep your gas bill from getting out of hand, so you can make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep the bill manageable.
Let’s start with these 10 super simple tricks.
1. Lower your thermostat by one degree
Let’s start with an easy one: a simple trick is to turn the thermostat one degree lower than you normally would. This seems like a small difference, but every degree higher results in a 7 percent increase in gas consumption. That one degree really does make a difference. You’ll thank yourself for your sacrifice when you see your next gas bill!
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2. Turn off the heating
If you leave a room, turn off the heater. It’s a shame to heat up hallways and guest rooms if they’re barely being used. Make sure you keep connecting doors in the house closed, so that less heat escapes and the rooms where the heaters are not turned on also remain at a nice temperature. If you apply this trick, you’ll be saving up to 200 bucks annually.
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3. Turn the thermostat down before you leave
Do you have to go out? Then turn the thermostat down an hour before departure. It won’t cool down much during that time, because the heat will linger in the room for a while. This saves you about 20 bucks per year. Are you away from home all day? That’s when you’ll really see the difference on your bill if you choose to keep the heating turned all the way down.
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4. Place radiator foil
Have you ever heard of radiator foil? It’s an easy way to make sure you use your gas as efficiently as possible. A heater also gives off heat at the back. This means that the wall is heated instead of the room, which isn’t very cost-effective. By placing radiator foil behind the heater, you ensure that the heat reflects back and stays in the room. This way, you can easily save on gas. It is also very cheap and easy to apply yourself!
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5. Provide plenty of fresh air
Fresh air can be heated better and faster than ‘old’ air. It may sound crazy, but open your windows briefly to ventilate the house. Close them and only then turn the heating back on. The fresh outside air heats up faster, so your heaters don’t have to work as hard.
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6. Shorter showers and less baths
You can easily save money on your gas bill by taking shooters hogers. Even a few minutes less has a great effect on your bill. It is also wise to take a bath less often. A bath requires three times as much hot water as a shower. You can make a huge difference here if you’re used to taking baths every day.
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7. Turn down your thermostat while you’re asleep
Turn down your heating while you’re asleep, especially if you live in a poorly insulated house. It costs much more money to heat your house at night than to get your house warm again in the morning. Turn the thermostat down an hour before you go to bed. This tip also applies when you leave home.
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8. Use draft strips
Do you suffer from drafts in your home? Then use draft strips to close seams and cracks. This makes sure that no heat can escape from your home, which means that your heaters don’t need to work quite as hard. You automatically save on your gas bill! You’ll thank yourself later!
Find another simple way to save money on your gas bill on the next page!
9. Insulate the pipes of your boiler
The pipes of your central heating boiler lose heat easily, especially if they run through cold rooms. So get pipe insulation from the hardware store to insulate your pipes and save on your gas consumption. You can easily do this yourself! Do not forget to insulate both the supply and return pipes.
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10. Don’t heat your bedroom
Turning off the heating in your bedroom is an easy way to save on your gas consumption. A fresh room is also good for a good night’s sleep. Are you too cold? Then a hot water bottle or an electric blanket works just as well.
Source: Tips & Weetjes, UnitedConsumers| Images: iStock