Tips for saving on heating and cooling bills

According to the federal government’s Energy Star heating and cooling guide, The average household spends more than $2,200.00 a year on energy bills, with nearly half of this going to heating and cooling costs.

Saving energy means saving money but does not mean that you have to sacrifice your normal day to day activities.  It’s how and when you use your energy that could really help decrease the amount spent on energy consumption.  Here are a few tips that you can use to lower your utility bill.

Setting and Programming your Thermostat

Setting your thermostat to 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter will save you money on your utility bills.  If your household is empty during the week for any length of time you need to consider having a programmable thermostat installed.  If you have a programmable thermostat you will want to program your thermostat 2 – 3 degrees higher (in the Summer) and lower (in the winter) than what you usually have your thermostat set at when you’re at home.  By having a programmable thermostat installed and used properly you could save about $180.00 a year in energy costs.

Maintenance

If you are responsible for a car then you are familiar with how important maintaining your car is.  You have to change your oil, check your tire pressure, check your break pads, etc. every so often.  The same is for your air conditioner and heater.  By having your equipment maintained every 6 month’s (before each season) drastically reduces the chance of a breakdown.  Changing your filters is one of the most import tasks in maintaining your system and is something that homeowners can typically do on their own.  By keeping your filters fresh and clean you are lessening the debris that builds up on your coils.  Keeping your coils clean ensures that the air flow is not restricted.  If the coils are clogged not only are you doing damage to your system you are also increasing your utility bills.  Maintenance is always a good idea just for the sake of peace of mind in knowing that you had a professional go over your system and that you took the appropriate measures in ensuring you get the maximum performance out of your system.

Duct Test and Sealing

If you are like most homeowners, as long as your cooling and heating system is keeping you comfortable, you don’t give it much thought.  But what you don’t see could be costing you hundreds of dollars every year.  Most duct systems are installed in attics or building cavities where they are hidden from view and rarely inspected.  Fixing duct leaks could save you more than $200.00 in your annual energy costs while improving the comfort in your home.

The results of a ductwork study in South Carolina found:

1.  In South Carolina’s climate, on average 50% of your annual energy bill is spent on running your heating/cooling system.

2.  As much as 33% of a heating/cooling systems airflow could be leaking through ducts causing a loss of comfort and system capacity.

3.  The impact is most severe in ducts installed in attics where temperatures can exceed 140 degrees in the summer

4.  On average, almost 15% of cooling capacity is wasted due to duct leakage.  While there will always be some leakage, homes with properly sealed ducts can often reduce leakage 3 to 5%.

For more information on this program, Call General Air today!