Heating Systems

Take advantage of passive solar heating to the greatest extent possible.

Make sure your home is well sealed and insulated.

Typically, space heating can be the first or second largest consumer of natural gas in a home (about 44%). 

• Clean your forced air system filter at least once per year.
• Close the fireplace damper when not in use.
• Install a programmable thermostat, and set your thermostat to operate only when your home is occupied.

During the winter months:

• Set your thermostat for 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and lower (55 degrees Fahrenheit) when away from home for more than 4 hours.
• Open your shades and drapes during the daylight hours to help warm your home, close them at night to keep out the cold.
• Make sure your air-distribution ducts do not leak and are free of obstructions.  A professional Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) specialist can evaluate this for you.  Leaky ducts can reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by 25-35%.
• If your furnace is older model, consider upgrading it.  You can save as much as 50% of your heating costs each year.  When upgrading your furnace, ensure to install a unit that is Energy Star certified and > 90 AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency- the rating for overall energy efficiency of a furnace).
• Consider installing a radiant heating system, which can be up to 40% more efficient than a forced air system.

For more space heating tips, see the SoCalGas web site.