Why is my gas bill so high??!!!

Now that winter is here you may be wondering why your gas bill is so high. Obviously, if you have a gas furnace your bill is going to be higher than it was during the summer time, but there may be some ways to save few bucks.

First off, keep the exterior doors and windows closed. Heat escapes at a very rapid pace and the cold comes right in. If I didn't know any better I would say my house was a vacuum sucking all the cold air from out side. So just keep the doors and windows closed as much as possible.

Second, check the weather stripping around your doors. That's easy, just feel with your hand around the whole perimeter of the door. Chances are you can feel a little bit of air coming in. The fix is easy. Just go to Lowe's or Home Depot or any other hardware store and look for a weather stripping kit. They are so simple to install. Just pull the back off the tape and stick it on. You can also replace the weather stripping on the jamb.

Third... Lets be honest, how long has it been since you replaced your furnace filter? depending on the type you use, 30 days maybe the max you should keep it in there. If you don't replace your filter regularly you are causing extra strain on your system. It has to work harder and longer to move the amount of air needed to keep your house at a constant temp. So do yourself and your central air system a favor, replace the filter. Trust me your don't want to replace your system prematurely.

Lets talk insulation.. How old is your home? Have your ever been in the attic?

Adding insulation to the attic is relatively easy and very cost effective. To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is less than R-30 (11 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 8 inches of cellulose), you could probably benefit by adding more. Most U.S. homes should have between R-30 and R-60 insulation in the attic. Don't forget the attic trap or access door.

If your attic has enough insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer, chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well. This is a more expensive measure that usually requires a contractor, but it may be worth the cost if you live in a very hot or cold climate. If you replace the exterior siding on your home, you should consider adding insulation at the same time.

You may also need to add insulation to your crawl space or basement. Check with a professional contractor. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/insulation.htm

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 12% of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient model. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/water_heating.html

These are just a few quick tips to help keep your utility bill down this winter.