Heating and cooling account for about 50 percent of your home’s energy costs. If you’re…
Helpful Energy Saving Tips For Summer, As Well As Winter
When autumn arrives and winter is just around the corner, many of us start to think about turning on the heating, and we know that means that our fuel bill is going to increase. It is strange that in the summer, we don’t think so much about our fuel bill, despite running an HVAC unit. There is as much you can do in the simmer as you can in the winter to reduce your energy consumption, and reduce your energy bills.
- Draft proofing your home. In the summer hot air escapes and cold air blows in, and in the summer, the opposite applies. Either way, you’re adding to your energy consumption if you don’t do something about draft proofing your home. Check around all your windows – some plastic seals may need replacing. Do the same with doors to the outside – you can buy expandable strips to close gaps.
- Get your HVAC and furnace checked regularly. Regular service checks on these two fixtures will have a three-fold effect. First, good maintenance will increase their lifespan and save you the cost of an early replacement. Second, ensuring your furnace or HVAC unit is functioning at maximum efficiency means you will use less energy. Less energy consumption means, third, that your fuel bills will fall, saving you more than you might expect.
- Make sure ducts, vents and filters are all clear of dust and dirt. While your local HVAC engineer or furnace engineer can check on the mechanics, there is no reason why you can’t keep your ducts, filters and air vents free from dust and dirt. Keeping these in pristine condition will increase the units’ efficiency, while also making it easier to detect if there are any leaks.
- Check your thermostat. In winter, regularly check your thermostat, and do the same in summer. Those members of the household who don’t pay the fuel bill have a habit of turning up the heat in the winter, or converting your home to the inside of a refrigerator in summer. Additionally, a two-degree change in the thermostat setting can save or cost you a noticeable amount on your fuel bill.
If you want any additional advice on how to reduce your energy consumption, please get in contact with us at (512) 836-1414 in Austin, TX and we’ll be glad to help you achieve your energy-saving goals.