With the new year only days away, we believe this to be a great time to encourage our readers to consider making New Year’s Resolutions to keep their home’s energy costs down for 2021.
Afterall, who doesn’t want to save money? The average homeowner in the U.S. pays an estimated $1,400 each year on energy usage, according to move.org, with almost half of that going to heating and cooling needs.
At Upper Arlington Heating & Cooling, we take pride in providing our wonderful customers with the absolute best products and services the industry has to offer — affordable HVAC solutions to help everyone keep their home comfortable and energy efficient all year long.
With that said, the following is our list of ways to save on energy costs in 2021:
Top 10 Energy Saving Tips for 2021
1. Consider a whole-home humidifier.
In addition to the wonderful health benefits of installing a whole-home humidifier for use during the winter months, the energy savings these devices bring can cut as much as 20 percent off overall costs. This is because humidity keeps warmed air inside a home much longer; it holds heat and makes the heated air feel warmer.
2. Working with your thermostat.
If you’re able to turn your thermostat down a little lower during the winter, or keep it up a little higher during the summer, we encourage you to do so because the savings could easily shave off an estimated $30 a month from overall energy bills. Using fans and dressing according to the weather will make this easier.
However, having said that, getting a Wi-Fi Thermostat or Smart Thermostat installed will save you even more money. These devices pay for themselves in no-time. They can be controlled from your smartphone, tablet or computer and they learn your routine to adjust themselves when you’re sleeping or while you are away at work.
3. Lower temperature on dishwasher and washing machine.
Washing machines and dishwashers can use a lot of hot water from your water supply and when they’re done they drain it in a hurry. Be mindful of the fact that heating up all that water is far more expensive when it’s colder, and most people get by just fine by using water at a lower temperature to save money.
4. Close off chimney flue.
Although fireplaces can be nice and warm and they increase holiday ambiance, leaving a flue damper open all the time during the colder months is expensive. It draws out a lot of warmed air up and out your chimney in a hurry, which forces your system to work overtime to heat your home. In the end, this can make energy bills skyrocket while putting unnecessary strain on your system that leads to extra wear and tear.
5. Clean off air registers, radiators and baseboard heaters.
In addition to keeping these areas clean, make sure there isn’t any sort of furniture, carpeting or draperies blocking or obstructing any of them. If anything is blocking the heat that these registers/radiators release, it can force your system to have to run longer cycles, which will cost you more money to operate.
6. Maintenance is essential. Get a Tune-Up every year.
Furnace tune-ups, which are a part of preventative maintenance, will save you money and keep you safe while helping you stay more comfortable all winter long. Additionally, having a professional HVAC technician tune up your heating and cooling equipment is the best way to avoid having to deal with emergency breakdowns, which usually happen suddenly and when you least expect it. The same goes for having an AC serviced during the spring before cooling season commences.
7. Identify leaks in ductwork.
If you have damaged or loose ductwork that’s allowing air to leak out, identifying these leaks and having them taken care of will save you a lot of money over time. Because it is imperative to keep all the warm air you are paying for inside your home flowing where it needs to flow to in order to keep your system running like it was meant to, if you suspect you’re having any sort of issues with your air duct system, give us a call right away as we’d be happy to help!
8. Check and change all your air filters on schedule.
When air filters are clogged and need to be replaced, they can cause your system to have to work far more harder than it should, adding strain and causing premature wear and tear on your HVAC systems as they struggle to provide the set temperature levels you require to keep you and your loved ones safe and comfortable. By checking and replacing your air filters regularly, like every month during the winter, you save more by spending a little.
9. Consider upgrading your windows if they’re older.
Although this can be expensive, newer windows that are designed to save energy can pay for themselves over time. Getting a quote with the estimated savings will give you an idea of how much you’d be saving. Most of these estimates are free, aside from the cost of your time.
10. Replace aging HVAC equipment before it’s too outdated.
If your furnace, heat pump or AC system is more than 10 to 15 years old, it’s a good idea to start to plan to replace them. By planning ahead, you can avoid unexpected equipment failure, costly repair bills, and you’ll be able install the new equipment at a time that’s convenient. A lot of our customers find the energy savings of a new system compared to their old one, the differences in their energy costs, to be drastic. In many cases, it justifies removing the old system when you consider the cost of repairing one that’s still going to need to be replaced. Moreover, this is also a good time to think about having a smart thermostat or an air quality device like a humidifier installed — because these devices come cheaper with the purchase of a new system and they improve energy efficiency while enabling you to customize your home comfort level.
Don’t delay! Give us a call today!
If you are looking to save on energy costs while optimizing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for 2021, keep in mind that there’s absolutely no substitute for regular maintenance and vigilance. Homeowners who are proactive with their home’s HVAC equipment, and not merely reactive, always save in the end — in dividends!
If you’re interested in learning more about any of the products or services mentioned here, or if you want to book an appointment with an expert technician, call Upper Arlington Heating & Cooling today at (614) 490-7507, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
Otherwise, from our family to yours: Have a Happy New Year!
