Use a Gas Furnace? Understand Terms on Your Heating Bill for Added Savings
If you’re looking for ways to save money when using your gas furnace, look no further than your own heating bills.
Many homeowners don’t realize that one key to lowering energy usage in their greater Cincinnati home arrives in the mail every month. The secret to saving both energy and money is to know the terms on this bill.
- Baseline allowance – For many, this will be the most useful piece of information. On each bill, you’ll notice an energy threshold, and once you pass that amount, the price you pay for gas will increase exponentially. This threshold is determined by the gas company itself and is based on the average energy usage in your surrounding area and for similar-sized homes. It’s representative of what the utility company believes will allow you to meet your basic heating needs.
- Gas usage terms – Whereas the baseline allowance is a standard indicator on your bill, the same may not be true when it comes to gas usage terms. The most common of these is BTU (British thermal unit), but you may see the simple use of therm, or the shortened version, thm. In some areas, though, measurement is done in volume via the use of CCF and MCF. Regardless of which one you see, the important part is that each represents the amount of gas that’s been used.
How to save money with this information
The best way to start saving money with your gas furnace is by learning how it’s being used. Comparing your gas usage between months, or even between certain days of the week, will illustrate how and when energy’s being used. A big spike in energy use or an increase in cost despite more controlled use may even clue you in to a loss of efficiency in your gas furnace.
For more advice about making your gas furnace more efficient, or for concerns about home comfort, please contact the experts at Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve been proudly serving the HVAC needs of greater Cincinnati since 1910.
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