According to the department of energy, heating, and cooling your home during adverse weather conditions accounts for over 50% of your overall household electricity bills. Whether you are using window air conditioning or heat pump units, it’s essential to maintain your air conditioning system. According to USA Today, well-maintained cooling and heating systems are more efficient and result in less energy use.
There are several tips to cut your home cooling and heating costs. While some tips are free and straightforward, others require financial investment upfront to realize noteworthy long-term savings. For more details, check on HVAC in Westchester website.
Tips to reduce heating and air conditioning costs
Install a programmable thermostat
The department of energy has estimated average savings of up to 10% of the total energy used per year for adjusting the temperature by seven to ten degrees for eight hours per day. Programmable thermostats reduce your energy usage by improving and regulating temperatures while you are asleep or away. It is not unusual to forget to turn off the heating and cooling system or set temperatures to a certain degree. Therefore a programmable thermostat is the best feature to include in your home. They are easy to program, and they adapt to your personal preferences. You can control some of them using an app, even when you are away from home. The thermostat can also shut off the HVAC system when you are away and start an hour or two before you get home.
1. Regular cleaning of the air conditioner filters
Dust, fiber, and dirt will make their way into the unit and clog the filter system making the unit work even thrice as hard to deliver your preferred temperature settings. Air conditioner cleaning and maintenance is, therefore, vital to help lower electricity bills and energy usage. Doing repairs and changing worn-out parts such as filters is all part of the cleaning process, which should be done once per month.
Even a newer home needs regular cleaning of its air conditioning unit. It’s especially important if your home is in an area near a lot of construction work, or a lot of dust or dirt is in the air. You may wish to call upon a professional like https://callthegeneral.com/ to come and clean your air conditioner of dirt and grime, as a build-up could cause your unit to function less efficiently.
2. Schedule an annual HVAC check-up and maintenance
Have a professional come and inspect your heating and cooling system at least once per year. Technicians will examine the whole system and remove any dirt, dust, or debris that has accumulated over the months and lower its efficiency. They will also do replacements and repairs if it’s necessary. It would be best if you did not consider this an added expense as the cost will be offset by having a low-energy demanding HVAC system, which in return, will save you monthly electricity bills.
3. Close vents in lower floors of your home
Hot air is lighter than cold air, rises, and pushes cold air down; thus, upper floors of your home feel relatively warmer compared to lower levels like the basement. You can manage the flow of cold and hot air by closing the vents in the lower sections of your house to help redirect the cold air to warm parts of the house. This will help even out the temperatures and lower the need to run the air conditioner for some time, saving you the extra energy. The reverse can be done to help with warm airflow during cold months. If you have a room that has trouble staying warm, try an energy efficient space heater when the room is being used. This will help from having to run your main heating system harder or deal with being cold in the room.
4. Install ceiling fans
According to USA Today, ceiling fans can reduce a room’s temperature up to 8 degrees by keeping the air moving. They will lower the dependence on heating and cooling systems, especially during the warm months, by flowing the air in circulation.
5. Close your drapes and seal any cracks
Just as vehicles get very hot when left under the sun, the same happens to a house. Any direct sunlight that penetrates the window is turned into heat once inside the house. Therefore it’s essential to close the drapes and draw curtains of the windows facing direct sunlight to manage indoor temperatures during the day. Sealing up cracks on your doors and windows will significantly help increase your A.C.s efficiency. Sealing up such cracks will also trap cold air into the house and prevent it from escaping. You can also apply weather stripping for windows and the doors in your home.
Benefits of energy-efficient HVAC system
During the summer, households use more electricity to maintain cold temperatures. Most old homes have high costs of air conditioning, depending on the quality of the A.C. system. With rising cooling and heating costs, homeowners are now looking to find energy-efficient air-conditioning solutions. Below are the benefits of having an energy-efficient heating HVAC unit;
1. Lowered costs of energy bills
An average American household is known to spend around 2000 USD per year on energy costs, with approximately 1000 USD going to heating and cooling systems. Inefficient A.C. units come with extra expenses on repairs and can be unreliable in cooling the house. Certified efficient units offer budget-friendly air conditioning.
2. Positive contribution to the environment
Efficient air conditioning reduces your carbon footprint, therefore positively contributing to the planet.
3. Complete temperature control
Investing in an energy-efficient HVAC system gives you more control over your home’s temperature. Most of them have programmable thermostats that come with apps you can use to control the house temperature even when you are not home.
4. Availability of tax rebates
The U.S. government is offering federal tax credits for consumer energy efficiency to all households in the U.S. This encourages Americans to invest in energy-efficient solutions for extra savings.
5. Improved airflow
Energy-efficient systems improve your house’s airflow, reduce impurities and dirt in your indoor air, and is quick and effective. Old and overworked A.C. units run for a more extended period, resulting in higher power bills, while energy-efficient ones require less time to heat or cool down the house.
The heating and cooling system in your home uses more energy than any other system in your home. You can increase your comfort and save money on energy utility bills by proper maintenance, regular check-ups, and replacing or upgrading worn out parts of your A.C. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can reduce environmental emissions and save around 30% on your electricity bills by combining upgrades with proper insulation, thermostat setting, adequate maintenance of A.C., and air sealing.
