Gas is a topic that is increasingly at the center of public discussions given the increases in recent months. These changes have led to a general downsizing for what is the constant and daily consumption that one makes of it. Since you cannot give up using it at home, let us at least see how to save on gas and mitigate the costs on your bill at the end of the month.
Radiators
Let’s start with radiators, the ones that save us from freezing during the winter! They represent one of the most suitable and popular solutions in order to cope with the cold, but at the same time they consume a considerable amount of gas to heat water. So, let’s discover some small strategies to save money on radiators!
Tin foil trick
That of tin foil is a trick that has been used for a long time and is used to spread heat faster in the room. In fact, the sooner you heat a certain area of the house, the sooner you can turn off the radiators and consequently facilitate savings. You will need to create an actual panel that must be placed behind the radiator. For this you will need:
Sheets of tin foil, Sheets of paper, Cardboard the size of the radiator, Glue
Take precise measurements with the cardboard in both width and length making sure it fits well behind the radiator. Cover both sides of the cardboard with A4 sheets and let it dry thoroughly. Once this step is completed, cover all sides of the cardboard again with foil, securing them tightly with glue. Once dry, your board is ready, you will need to put it behind the radiator with the help of a string and that’s it. Aluminum has a heat-reflective property, so it sends heat back, speeding up the heating process.
Thorough cleaning
Thorough cleaning of the radiator is essential to prevent the heat from taking too long to spread through the room. In addition, if you neglect cleaning for an extended period of time, you will also incur radiator failure. To wash it thoroughly you should first remove all dust with a microfiber cloth on the back side use a duster. Then place a basin under the radiator and fill a jug with warm water and 1 tablespoon of organic soap flakes. Pour the solution into the cracks inside the radiator and move the basin as you go to keep the water off the floor. Dry everything thoroughly and the radiator will be perfectly clean!
Saving schedules and strategies
Last tips for saving money on the radiator are schedules and saving strategies, let’s see how: During the day, try to keep them off, making the most of the sun’s natural heat. Open balconies and windows to make sure it can reach the whole room. Do not turn them on during times when you know you need to open balconies and windows or while you are cleaning. When you turn them on, make sure that the heat stays concentrated in that area and close the doors to other. Once the house has reached a proper temperature, turn them off. This way you will also accustom your body to not being dependent on heaters. If you have advanced technology, you can turn the radiators on before you come home and turn them off when you return when everything is heated.
Kitchen fires
It’s hard for a day to go by without getting your hands on the stove! If radiators are turned on only at certain times of the year, kitchen fires are always at work. However, even in such cases we can adopt methods to avoid wasting gas and save money, we just have to find out them together!
Fire off method
Increasingly popular is the fire off method, a scientifically studied cooking strategy also used by some chefs. Are you curious? Let’s see what to do step by step: Fill the pot with water and put it on the stove, strictly with the lid on. Bring to a boil, then lower the pasta. Allow 2 minutes of cooking time with the gas on and without a lid (otherwise risk spilling the water). After these minutes have elapsed, put the lid back on the pot and turn off the heat. Wait 1-2 minutes longer than the cooking time indicated on the pasta box. Et voila…the pasta will be perfectly cooked! The benefits of such a method are very large not only in terms of saving gas, but also in terms of CO2 emissions. In addition, if you adjust well with the water you put into the pot, pouring 3 cups per 4 ounces instead of 1 quart, you will save a disproportionate amount of water in a year!
Use of household appliances
There are many people who inside the kitchen also decide to put various household appliances. The choice is usually made to save time and not to prolong the preparation of dishes too much, but in reality they are a good compromise for savings as well! Since gas has an ever-increasing cost, cooking certain foods inside the oven or heating liquids in the microwave is definitely faster, but if we consider these actions in the long run, it also brings significant savings. So, if you own these appliances in your home, make use of them in order not to constantly turn on the gas.
Metal pans
Last tip regarding kitchen fires concerns the time of utensils that are preferred for cooking food. One thing of paramount importance is the material they are made of. My suggestion is to use metal cookware as much as possible. Metal is a very good conductor of heat and will heat the pot immediately, especially if we think about when it has to cook pasta. As a result, it will cook quickly and save gas. Not only that, but cooking in metal pots is also healthier. Finally, it is also important to cook the dishes in a proportionate pot that is not too large.
Oven
Not all ovens are gas ovens, but there are many homes where this type still reigns, so it is important to see what can be done to save money on this appliance. With the understanding that cooking in the oven is only to be considered in certain situations, let’s find out some small tricks! Do not constantly open the oven while cooking: it is important to have a plan of cooking times, so you are not always there to monitor the situation. Don’t turn on the oven to preheat it too long before putting food inside. Five to eight minutes is enough, depending on the size. If possible, prepare several things at once, perhaps reversing them in the rack tops so that everything cooks evenly. Clean the oven thoroughly when it is too encrusted otherwise it will not distribute the heat well. Check first that alternative methods such as an oven or microwave cannot be used for the food to be cooked.
Boiler
Even with the boiler, the engine of all the heat and gas spread in the house, you can have tricks that manage to mitigate costs and save on the gas bill.
Adjust the temperature
The most important factor when we talk about the boiler (whether electric or gas) is adjusting the temperature. Thinking that the degree more or the degree less does not make a difference is totally debunked! In fact, increasing just one of these results in higher costs ranging from 5 to 6 percent, think about how much that can vary on the entire gas bill. So, set a temperature ranging from 64 °F to 68 °F, which is just enough to get a good feeling of warmth without getting cold.
Using a thermostat
Related to what has just been said, using a thermostat might be the ideal solution! Previously, one did not care to install them in the home, to date they are increasingly popular as they are part of the smart decisions to have in the home. One can adopt a very functional strategy such as adjusting the heat by room and seeing where to increase or decrease the degrees. Thermostats also cope directly with the boiler and manage its turning on and off based on your settings. These small measures result in savings of about 20 percent.
Maintenance
Lastly, the importance of boiler maintenance should not be underestimated. By having a good maintenance plan with an expert, you will always have your boiler at its best, avoiding breakdowns and waste. The more you neglect this factor, the greater the chance of malfunctions. As a result, the boiler will go under stress and do its job in twice the time, increasing costs.
