How to save gas at home to pay less: practical tips from Naftogaz
12 October 2024 05:16
Rising tariffs are forcing Ukrainians to spend large sums of money on utilities. However, it is possible to reduce bills by cutting down on gas consumption. Naftogaz has shared tips on how to use the “blue fuel” rationally to save money, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Tip No. 1 – heating
The first tip will be relevant for those houses and apartments with a gas heating boiler. In winter, when the air temperature drops, the fuel consumption required for high-quality heating also increases. Modern heaters are equipped with automatic thermostats and sensors that control and regulate heating depending on weather conditions.
However, the temperature in the rooms of the same house may vary depending on
- the size of the room
- location
- the number of doors and windows;
- the presence of furniture, carpets and household appliances that accumulate and emit heat.
To set a comfortable heating temperature based on these factors, we recommend installing thermostats on the radiators. This way, you can save gas and not heat rooms where there is no need. There is also a factor of personal thermoregulation, when people are comfortable at different temperatures. In this case, it will also be useful to have a regulator on the radiator in each room.
Tip #2 – gas stove
You can also save gas while cooking. This saving will not be significant, but “a penny saves a pound”.
Here are some tips for rational use of a gas stove:
- When boiling water, put a lid on the pot to help the liquid heat up faster.
- When cooking, use a burner that is the right size for the diameter of the cookware. A small burner will need more gas to heat a large container. Conversely, heating a small pot or frying pan on a large burner will result in excessive fuel consumption.
- Place the cookware in the centre of the burner to ensure that the flame is distributed evenly.
- A gas oven consumes an average of 0.2 m3/hour of fuel at 180-200 degrees. Therefore, it is not recommended to bake small portions of food, as the use of energy in this case is not rational.
- Don’t forget to regularly maintain the burners. The more dirt and soot in the burners, the higher the consumption of natural gas.
- Clean the cookware from soot and grime, as this layer will cause food and liquids to heat up longer, which will increase gas consumption.
Also, remember to adjust the burner flame power depending on the stage of cooking. This will help to avoid excessive gas consumption.
Tip #3 – boiler operation
Today, condensing boilers are considered to be the heaters with the highest efficiency. After all, they produce heat not only from gas combustion, but also additionally receive it from fuel combustion products.
The price of a condensing boiler is higher than convection or conventional models, but the cost will be recouped over the period of its operation. Such a device can save up to 10-15% of gas. Additionally, the boiler has a modern flame modulation system that allows you to adjust the heating level of the coolant.
It is important not only to buy energy-efficient equipment, but also to use it properly to save energy and money. For a gas boiler to work properly, you need to
- regularly clean the heat exchanger from sediment, because a dense layer of scale will cause the water to heat up longer, which will lead to increased gas consumption;
- set the temperature correctly so that the boiler can maintain a comfortable indoor climate. Maintenance operation requires less energy than frequent switching on and heating of the heating medium to the required temperature;
- check the condition of the pipes and clean them if necessary, as sediment, rust and scale form inside over time. It is better to call a technician, as unauthorised intervention in the system will damage the appliance and invalidate the warranty.
When switching on the gas boiler, choose the correct operating programme. For example, in the “Comfort” mode, the device heats and maintains the temperature of the coolant all the time so that when you open the tap, you can immediately get warm water. The Eco mode works in the opposite way, so the liquid starts to heat up as soon as you start using it. Therefore, this programme consumes less gas because there is no need to maintain the temperature.
When buying a boiler, check its technical specifications and make sure that it is capable of heating the area of your house. If the power is insufficient, the device will always work at maximum, which will increase its consumption of natural gas and negatively affect its technical condition. You should also not buy appliances with a power reserve. Because such models have a larger combustion chamber, the energy consumption is higher, but the room will not heat up faster.
Tip #4 – hot water
Gas water heaters or double-circuit boilers are equipped with a heating temperature controller. Set the minimum value and check whether the liquid is comfortable for you.
Do not set the temperature too high right away to avoid diluting the boiling water with cold water later on. This will increase not only gas consumption but also water consumption.
Also, remember to clean or replace the heating element in time to avoid increasing the heating time due to sediment.
