There are several things you can do around your home to lower your gas bill. Below are some tips for reducing the amount of energy used by your gas furnace and water heater: 

• Set your thermostat to 70 or lower during the day, and lower it to 68 or less at night.
• Clean or change your air filters at least twice per season.
• DO NOT restrict airflow through the heating system by closing hot air registers or placing furniture or other objects in front of or over cold air returns.
• Open drapes and shades during the day to let in the sun. Close at night to keep out the cold.
• Avoid changing the thermostat setting frequently.
• Hot air and return ducts in the attic or crawl space should be covered with at least two inches of insulation and should be as airtight as possible.
• To reduce heat loss up the chimney, install glass doors on fireplace and close dampers when the fireplace is not in use.
• Make sure your wood-burning fireplace is properly vented.  Wood-burning fireplaces require a great deal of oxygen. If you do not have an outside air intake vent, your fireplace will draw air from inside your house, including the air you have paid to heat.
• Set your water heater thermostat dial at mid-range. Extremely hot water can lead to scalding accidents and also higher energy costs.
• Repair any leaky faucets.
• Make sure your hot water pipes are insulated where they pass through unheated areas.
• Flushing your water heater tank every year or so is a wise precaution which could extend the life of your tank by preventing the build-up of sediment. (However, if your tank hasn't been flushed for over five years, flushing it now and disrupting the sediment could actually expose a leak.)