saving
energy...
saves money...
When it's cold outside, heating your home is your largest energy expense. This brochure includes tips that will save you money.
There are also several payment options and energy assistance programs that are offered to help smooth-out the seasonal bill changes that may effect you.
Suggestions:
Check weather-stripping and caulking around doors and windows in your house. Repair or replace damaged or missing weather-strip or caulk.
Check that your attic, walls, basement and crawl space are insulated to recommended levels.
Change or clean furnace filters regularly. Generally, filters should be cleaned or replaced once a month during the heating season to ensure they don't restrict the flow of air.
Schedule an annual maintenance check on your furnace with a qualified heating dealer.
Make sure your fireplace is properly vented. Fireplaces require a great deal of oxygen. If you do not have an outside source of combustion air, your fireplace will draw air from inside your house, including the air you paid to heat.
Close off heat registers and doors to unused rooms, don't heat - or cool - rooms not being used. TIP: Do not shut more than one-third of the total heat registers, because it forces the furnace to cycle more frequently.
Ensure all return air openings are unobstructed.
Don't block heating registers, move furniture to allow heat to flow freely.
Unoccupied homes use more fuel to maintain the same constant temperature level than when occupied. During occupancy such items as lights, greater refrigeration operation, cooking, radio and TV, dishwashing, hot showers, and bathing and even the occupant bodies add heat to a room.
Open drapes & shades during the day to let in the sun. Close them at night to keep out the cold.
Set your thermostat to 70° or lower during the day, and lower it to 68° or less at night and when you are away.
Avoid changing the thermostat setting frequently.
Have your thermostat placed on an indoor wall in the place you spend the most time in your home. It should never be placed by an outside door.
Consider installing an automatic setback thermostat from a qualified heating contractor.
When you shower, keep it short. Showers can use less hot water than baths, but only if they're short in duration.
Consider installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Both can cut water flow without affecting the quality of the water stream, and can save on your water heating costs.
Wash full loads in your washing machine, when you can (don't overload) or try adjusting the water level if you need to.
When washing clothes, use warm or cold - not hot - water. A cold water rinse is always appropriate.
Fix leaky taps immediately! A hot water tap, dripping once every second, wastes a tankful of water each week.
Set your thermostat dial at mid-range. Extremely hot water can lead to scalding accidents and also higher energy costs.
Flushing your 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.)
Insulate long stretches of hot water pipes passing through unheated areas.
Federal energy assistance is available to low-income households that qualify. Project Share and Project Warmth also provide temporary emergency heating assistance.
Our Level Pay Program offers a plan to smooth out seasonal changes in your bill. Paying an even monthly amount helps you budget your energy expenses throughout the year.
Our AutoPay Program will save you time and money. This program simplifies payments, eliminates missed payment deadlines and accurately records payments.
For more information please call our
Customer Service Center:
377-6840 (Boise/Treasure Valley)
Other areas: 1-800-548-3679
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
www.intgas.com