How to save on your gas bills

If you're facing ever steeper gas bills as shortages cause companies to increase their rates, you don't have to just grin and bear it. There are many ways to reduce the amount you pay for your household gas, many of which can lead to instant savings on your bills from day one.



An important first step when looking to reduce your gas consumption is to minimise the amount of gas being wasted. This doesn't only mean avoiding leaving hobs and heaters on for longer than necessary, but also setting appliances such as your thermostat to more temperate levels, such as 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and 120 degrees Fahrenheit for your hot water. You should also be sure to alter the temperature when you are away from home, or switch the heating off entirely to save more money.



If you feel these moderate temperatures are not enough to heat your home, you may have a problem with insulation. Fitting or replacing cavity wall insulation and loft insulation should allow your property to retain more heat, meaning you won't have to use your boiler and central heating quite so much, and the same goes for replacing single pane windows with heat-retaining double glazing.

Once these fixtures are in place, they should be sealed to ensure no draughts will be allowed through. These home improvements may seem like expensive changes to make in the interest of saving money on your bills, but the difference might not take as long as you expect to balance out. You can also increase the value of your property when you modernise it in these ways.



An easy way to reduce the amount of gas you use in your home - but one that may require a change to your daily habits - is to avoid using gas appliances unless you really need to. This means not washing dishes or doing your laundry until you have a full load ready, and allowing dishes and clothes to dry naturally rather than using automated dryers can also save energy.



If you have a gas fireplace, you may enjoy the sensation of the appliance, but the truth is that these consume a great deal more gas than central heating, so you may wish to avoid using them unless it's particularly cold inside. You could also substitute some gas stove or oven cooked meals for microwave meals, as these use less energy too.



Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.