Tips to keep gas bills down during cold weather days

It’s going to get cold, which means people will need to get warm, but at what cost?

The Texas Gas Service Home Energy Calculator and found for the average 3 bedroom, 1,500 sq.ft. home, heating costs take up more than 50 percent of their bill. But according to Eastside Ace Hardware plumming expert Arturo Portio, there are ways to keep your bills from spiking.

“I’d recommend leave your heater on day and night,” Portio said. “Leave it on a comfortable degree like 65-68, which is fine. Reason why is if you turn it off during the day then come back in the evening, when you turn it back on its going to take you more gas and more electricity to heat up you whole house again.”

Electricity is more expensive than gas, and portable heaters are pricier than central heating. Fire places by far are the most cost effective.

Ernie Carrizal say’s he’s prepared to combat the cold without killing his budget, which usually hovers around $400 a month for electric and gas.

“I kind of winterized my house by weather stripping and everything like double pane windows and stripping on exterior doors,” Carrizal said.

But El Pasoans won’t have time to winterize their homes before Wednesday, when temps are expected to free-fall to 18 degrees. Keep these tips in mind:

-if you have a big house with unused rooms, run the central heater at a manageable temp, then use space heaters in smaller rooms.
-close the vents and shut the doors of unused rooms to not waste heat
– if you have high ceilings, portable heaters are best since heat rises.
-and keep the heater on. reheating your home when its that cold will only increase costs.