High Gas Bills? Read to Find Out How to Lower Them

It has been almost 2 months since Christmas so by now we should hopefully be recuperating from all of the holiday costs…and weight gain.  Valentine’s has come and gone and as March looms spring seems in our grasp here in Michigan.  Unfortunately, March does not often to seem to bring about the relief we so desire, which means that the gas and heating bills will continue to be high as the cold air remains and refuses to budge.  Thinking about the fact that winter is not yet over, have you been noticing that your gas bills are seeming extremely high?  Or at least higher than you would like them to be?

Turning the dial down on the thermostat can be one effective way to lower a heating bill.  Having an automatic thermostat is very helpful in accomplishing this consistently.  However, if you want to save some money on top of that or if you do not relish the idea of wearing your coat around the house, there are some other ways to keep the bills down.

1. Add Insulation-  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today, but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years.”  Insulation works as both a barrier to outside air and as a means to trap inside air.  That way when it is cold outside, it keeps the warm air in and the cold air out and vice versa during warm seasons.  A home energy audit like FLAME’s E3 Evaluation can determine the exact amount of insulation needed and what R-Value (thickness) it should be (Energy.gov).
2. Infrared Imaging- Along the same lines as an energy audit, professional technicians can use an infrared camera to take a thermal image of your home.  This will allow technicians to see where the leaks are and where you are losing energy thereby causing gas bills to be higher.  At FLAME this can be done as part of the E3 Evaluation or independently.

Interested in any of these two ways to lower the amount you spend on bills?  Contact FLAME!  Good luck and keep your fingers crossed that the first day of spring in March actually feels like spring.