CHANTILLY, VA, Mar 28, 2024—While the winter is a time of family and festivities, brisk temperatures tend to drive us indoors, where we jack up the heat—and our heating bills. Scott MacDonald, President of RE/MAX Gateway offers insight on how to reduce your natural gas use this season, which will save you money.
“Winter temperatures can make natural gas bills rise immensely,” says MacDonald. “From longer showers to ramping up the heat, many of our actions can be impacting our gas bill.”
Adjust the hot water heater. When it's cold outside, your hot water heater has to work harder to heat the colder incoming water to the temperature you specify. “To help, you can turn down the temperature on your water heater,” says MacDonald. You may not notice the tiny decrease in heat, but your bill will show the change.
Check your windows. Are your windows keeping the cold air out and the heat in? Have a specialist check your windows and repair any necessary leaks to ensure all that hot air you're pumping stays put.
Wash your clothes in cold. “Heating the water in your washing machine taxes your hot water heater,” says MacDonald. Considering most wash cycles take 40 minutes or less, that's a lot of hot water use. Wash your clothes in cold water to shave major savings off your bill.
Shorten your showers. This one is obvious, but not always utilized: take shorter showers to lessen your gas bill.
Check your thermostat. To help with your heat bills, set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower. Throw on a sweater and an extra blanket if need be.
Use a timer. A thermostat timer lowers your thermostat when you're sleeping, and when you're out at work. “This can help lower your bills without you having to remember to nudge the thermostat lower every time you exit the house or hit the hay,” says MacDonald.
For more home and real estate information, please contact RE/MAX Gateway at scottmacdonald@remax.net, 703-652-5777, or RE/MAX Gateway.
RE/MAX Gateway is an award-winning real estate company serving Northern Virginia and the DC Metro area with four office locations. Agents are licensed in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.