When was the last time you considered your family’s energy consumption habits? We’re guessing it was the last time you looked at your heating or cooling bill.
According to the US Department of Energy, about half of a typical homeowner’s annual energy costs come from the hard work and long hours logged by their furnace or air conditioner. If you’re looking for ways to save money on your energy bills, you’d be surprised how a little bit of mindfulness and a few simple changes in your daily routine can lead to extra wiggle room in the family budget.
Before we present a few of our energy-saving tips, the local HVAC experts at Neighborhood Plumbing Heating Cooling & Electrical have put together this infographic illustrating some common causes for high energy bills.
Now that you’ve identified some areas of potential energy waste, here’s how you can get the most out of your HVAC system as the Central Minnesota temperatures continue their steady decline throughout the fall season.
Let the Sunshine In
Opening the drapes and making use of the natural heat from the sun whenever possible will take the pressure off your furnace or boiler and allow you to set your thermostat at a lower temperature throughout the day. For maximum heating efficiency, it’s recommended to keep the thermostat around 68 degrees during daylight hours, and with warm rays flowing through your windows, you won’t need to put on a heavy sweater or shawl to get comfortable.
Trade in Your Thermostat
Speaking of thermostats, if you haven’t already upgraded to a programmable or smart version, you’ve been missing out on some significant savings. Smart thermostats automatically adjust the temperature according to a pre-set schedule, and can be monitored and controlled from remote locations via WiFi connections. No more coming home to a house that’s too cold and tinkering with the thermostat trying to get cozy and warm!
Address Dirty Ducts
The buildup of dirt, dust, pet dander, or other debris clogging up your air ducts will restrict airflow, and your heating system will be unable to run at maximum efficiency. It’s also not healthy to breathe dirty air! It’s a good idea to call a professional for a full duct cleaning. They’ll be able to remove all blockages and identify any air leaks or separations in the ducts that are wasting energy and driving up your heating bills.
Have Your Heater Serviced
An efficient heating system starts with the heater itself. If you’ve been neglecting routine maintenance, there’s a good chance a professional furnace or boiler tune-up is necessary. A certified HVAC technician will go beyond a simple filter swap and make sure every single aspect of the system is running properly, and you’re not throwing money away due to inefficiency and waste.
For more information on how you can save energy and money this fall, or to schedule an appointment for seasonal heating maintenance anywhere in Central Minnesota, give the team at Neighborhood Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical a call today.