There are only two ways to lower a gas bill: burn fewer therms, or pay less per therm. This page
covers the first, and specifically the free and low-cost end of it — things you can do this
weekend without hiring anyone. For structural improvements, see
energy conservation tips. For the
price side, compare current Georgia natural gas rates.
Start with the thermostat
Space heating dominates winter gas use in Georgia, so the thermostat is the highest-leverage
control in the house.
- Lower the setpoint a few degrees. Each degree of reduction cuts heating energy
measurably, and the comfort difference is smaller than most people expect once dressed for it.
- Set back at night and when out. Eight hours at a lower temperature is free
money. A programmable or smart thermostat automates it.
- Do not overshoot. Cranking to 80°F does not heat the house faster —
furnaces run at one output. It just overheats and wastes gas.
Stop paying to heat the outdoors
Air leaks are the cheapest problem to fix and among the largest.
- Weatherstrip exterior doors; a visible daylight gap is a direct loss.
- Caulk around window frames, and around pipes and wiring entering the house.
- Seal gaps where the house meets the foundation and around attic hatches.
- Close the fireplace damper when not in use — an open damper is a permanent hole in the roof.
- Use the cheap outlet and switch-plate gaskets on exterior walls.
A caulk gun and a weatherstrip kit cost very little and typically repay in a single winter.
Water heating: the year-round load
A tank water heater runs in July as well as January, which is why your summer bill is not zero.
- Set the tank to about 120°F. Higher wastes gas and risks scalding.
- Insulate exposed hot water pipes — foam sleeves are inexpensive and get
hot water to the tap sooner, so less runs to waste.
- Fit low-flow showerheads and aerators. Less hot water used means less gas.
- Fix dripping hot taps. A steady drip is heated water going down the drain.
- Wash clothes in cold where you can; modern detergents are formulated for it.
Help the heat get where it is going
- Change the furnace filter on schedule. A clogged filter makes the system run
longer for the same result and shortens its life.
- Keep vents and registers clear of furniture and rugs.
- Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day and close them at dusk.
- Reverse ceiling fans to clockwise on low to push warm air back down.
- Close doors on unused rooms, but do not seal off so many that you starve the
system of return air.
Kitchen and laundry
Smaller, but free: use lids on pots, match pan size to burner, avoid opening the oven door
repeatedly, clean the dryer lint filter every load, and run full loads. Residual oven heat after
cooking is genuinely useful on a cold evening — just never use an oven or range as a room
heater, which is unsafe. See natural gas safety.
Now fix the price side too
Efficiency and rate shopping are independent, and doing both compounds. Many Georgia households
are on a rolled-over variable rate paying well
above market without knowing. Check your supply rate against
current rates, read
how to understand GA gas rates, and
switch if a better plan exists — it
is free and takes minutes.