Heating and cooling account for more than half of home energy use, but most homeowners can stand to cut their heating and cooling costs by at least 30 percent. From keeping the blinds in your home closed during the winter to better maintaining your home’s HVAC system, there are a variety of steps you can take to lower your energy bill while keeping your home comfortable.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
You can save approximately $180 per year on heating and cooling costs by installing a programmable thermostat, which offers four pre-programmed settings. These settings allow you to regulate your home’s temperature when you are asleep or while you are away at work.
Do Yearly maintenance Check-ups
Maintain your HVAC system and address problems before it’s too late by hiring a contractor to do yearly maintenance check-ups of both your heating and cooling system. Contractors tend to be busiest in the summer and winter, so have your cooling system checked in the spring and your heating system checked in the fall. During a maintenance check-up, a contractor will tighten electrical connections, check thermostat settings, lubricate moving parts, check system controls, and much more.
Replace Air Filters on a Regular Basis
A dirty air filter increases energy costs by slowing down air flow and making your HVAC system work harder. Over time, a dirty air filter can also cause dust and dirt to build up in the system, leading to early system failure and the need for expensive repairs. Inspect your HVAC system’s air filters once a month or at least once every three months and replace them, if necessary. You can have a professional contractor teach you how to do this if you aren’t sure.
Install ENERGY STAR Qualified HVAC Equipment
Is your HVAC system performing efficiently? If it is wasting energy or no longer keeping your home comfortable, consider replacing it with the latest energy-efficient equipment. By replacing your old HVAC system with ENERGY STAR qualified products, you can cut your energy bill by nearly $200 per year.
Installing HVAC equipment incorrectly could increase your energy bills, shorten the life of your equipment, and minimize its efficiency. To ensure that the equipment is properly installed, hire a contractor who follows quality installation procedures.
Seal and Insulate Ducts
Approximately 20 percent of conditioned air that moves through a typical home’s duct system is lost because of holes, leaks, and poorly connected ducts. Signs that you may need to have your home’s duct system sealed and insulated include high summer and winter utility bills, rooms that are difficult to heat and cool, or tangled ducts in your system. Ducts are usually concealed in the attic or basement or behind walls and ceilings, making repairs a difficult task. For the best results, hire a professional contractor to seal and insulate your ducts.
Lower Your Energy Bills Today by Hiring a Professional Contractor
Whether you need to repair your Seattle home’s ducts, replace your HVAC system with a more energy-efficient model, or have your current system maintained, fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 425-533-9058 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
