With the cost of heating fuels on the rise, people are searching for ways to stretch a gallon of fuel as far as they can.

And according to Karen Henderson, manager at Goffstown Ace Hardware, there has been a 75 percent increase in the purchase of programmable thermostats for this time of year.

“Come fall, it may be a bigger item,” said Henderson. “In September or October, people will really start thinking about how to maximize each gallon of fuel they’re buying.”

Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to keep their homes at a lower temperature during the day and set it to potentially increase the temperature before they get home in the evening. Henderson said the price of programmable thermostats at Goffstown Ace Hardware range from $32.99 to $58.

Another way to stretch that gallon of fuel is to get your furnace cleaned and tuned, said Bill West, manager of Rockingham Oil in Derry.

“It gets your efficiency up.” said West. “And it’s something that should be done annually anyway.”

The New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning Web site also offers the following suggestions for stretching that gallon of fuel as far as possible:

• Insulate attics and walls.
• Seal areas around doors, windows, etc. where heat can escape.
• Set water heater temperature to high of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Clean hot air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed. Also make sure furniture, carpeting and drapes don’t block them.
• Reduce thermostat setting when everyone is asleep or away from home.
• Install storm windows or other energy-saving windows. Use drapes and shades at night to conserve heat.
• Close the damper on your woodstove/fireplace when it is not in use.