Every change of season brings new challenges for a home’s HVAC system. It’s all about keeping the air conditioning running efficiently in the summer and the furnace running efficiently in the fall or winter. As the temperatures start to cool heading into fall, there is a transition from cool air from the AC to warm air from the furnace. If you aren’t proactive about lowering your energy bills, that transition into fall could be costly.
The following tips can help reduce your fall energy bills. Best of all, these tips can be put into action today.
Target Your Water Usage
The amount of water used in the average home counts for around 18% of a home’s total energy consumption. That water usage is not just from running sinks and flushing toilets. It also comes from heating the water for showers and washing hands.
One of your first water usage targets should be your water heater. If your current water heater is close to 15 years old, it might be time to replace the unit. That’s good because it means you can opt for a more energy-efficient model. You could even make the switch to a tankless water heat that will save you more.
It is also essential to use less hot water. Cutting back on showers is a good start. However, your primary target should be the temperature of the hot water. Most water heaters are set at 140 degrees as the default temperature. Lowering that number to 120 degrees will keep you in hot water and save energy bills.
Use Your Thermostat Wisely
Heating and cooling expenses are also significant expenses that every homeowner faces. Taking steps to reduce your gas, heating, and air conditioning usage can lead to substantial savings. That begins with making adjustments to your thermostat. In the fall, you should set your thermostat to 68 degrees. That temperature adjustment alone can reduce your annual energy bills by up to 10%.
An excellent way to regulate heat usage in the fall is by adding a programmable thermostat. These are the smart thermostats that sync up with your smartphone. That allows you to set a schedule for turning on your heat. The smart thermostat allows you to monitor settings from anywhere. Since it only takes about 10 minutes to warm up the home, you can set your smart thermostat to turn on the heat 10 minutes before you get home from work.
On an especially chilly fall night, you can turn up the heat right from the comfort of your bed. There are several smart thermostat devices available for purchase. However, a smart thermostat should be installed by an experienced HVAC tech at Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC. Remember that you don’t need to replace your HVAC system to work with a smart thermostat.
Improve Home Insulation
Have you ever checked your home for air drafts? All that money you spend on heating in the fall could literally be going out the window or under the front door. There doesn’t need to be a big leak for a spike in your heating bill. Once you identify the leaks, they can easily be sealed with weather stripping or caulk.
It’s also important to have your attic insulation checked out. Insulation can lose effectiveness over the years and might need to be replaced to boost your home’s energy efficiency.
Maintain Your HVAC Systems
Having your furnace regularly cleaned by HVAC pros is vital, too. While they conduct a thorough maintenance checkup, our HVAC techs can also find and fix any leaky ductwork. Regular upkeep will go a long way towards promoting better air quality and heating throughout the home.
Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC has provided reliable heating and air conditioning service in Billings and the surrounding areas for over 35 years. That is the experience you can count on when it comes to repairing or replacing your furnace. Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC also helps with gas fireplace maintenance services. Maintaining a gas fireplace is vital to keeping the home warm and your family safe.
Additionally, we provide recommendations for installing air purifier systems to improve the air quality throughout your house. Circulating clean air is vital in the fall when all the windows at home are closed.
A few minor adjustments in how you utilize your HVAC and water around the house can significantly impact your fall energy bills. When you need heating and cooling services in Billings, contact Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC.
Today!
