All year long we rely heavily on our home comfort systems, and the result is nearly half of the energy consumed going toward heating and cooling. Are you getting the most bang for your energy buck? There are a few things to look out for to help further boost your home comfort equipment’s efficiency, so your energy dollar goes further!
Common Causes of Home Energy Waste:
DIRTY AIR FILTERS
At a minimum, air filters should be changed every three months. A dirty air filter will slow down the airflow and cause the system to work harder – directly wasting the energy and leading to expensive maintenance or system failure down the line.
NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE
Every year that goes by without maintenance reduces the efficiency of the heating or cooling equipment. For significant energy savings, calling to schedule a routine check-up on a yearly basis will go a long way.
LEAKING DUCTWORK
The ducts throughout your home can run through the attic, crawlspace, basement and garage – giving the conditioned air you’re paying for many opportunities to escape through unsealed or broken ducts. As much as 20% can be saved on energy costs with properly sealed ductwork!
IMPROPERLY SIZED EQUIPMENT
Heating and cooling equipment that is too big or too small for a home can cause energy bills to spike. Additionally, because these systems are working harder repair costs can increase as well. Be sure to work with our experts to figure out whether or not your equipment can use some re-sizing!
In addition to these energy wasters, there are other factors that can lead to wasted energy we recommend you keep an eye out for. These include:
• Areas of the home that are poorly insulated
• Spaces where air is escaping, such as leaking ductwork
• Gaps and spaces around door and window frames
• Improperly ventilated areas
If you think your home is wasting energy, you don’t have to put up with it! Give us a call and we’ll be happy to schedule an estimate at your earliest convenience.
How To Save Energy In Your Home
Staying comfortable this season doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank, and saving on energy costs doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your comfort. Here are a few energy conservation tips to keep in mind so you can stay comfortable and save energy!
- Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat up your home, and close them at night
- Cover drafty windows with tightly sealed clear plastic during the cold winter months
- Apply caulking and weatherstripping around window and door frames
- When asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10-15 degrees to save up to 10% a year on heating costs
- Switch to LED lighting to save money and still brighten your home
- Maintain your heating system with annual tune-ups to keep heating costs from spiking
- Seal gaps around recessed lighting and seal any unfinished spaces to avoid heat loss
- Replace or add insulation to accessible spaces, such as the attic or basement
- Keep registers and vents clear of dust, debris and furniture to allow adequate airflow and maximize the heating system’s output
Don’t be shy about using your heating equipment! Performing tasks such as the ones above around the allow you to get the most out of your heating system without wasting your energy dollars.
Note your interest in a service plan or maintenance check today with our contact form!
