If your Dayton home is on par with the national average, then between 50% and 75% of your energy bill is attributed to the HVAC system. You may believe that curbing HVAC usage is quite important to your pocketbook. Fortunately, cutting costs on your HVAC bill doesn’t mean you have to cut corners on home comfort. Read on to learn the ins and outs of HVAC savings.
Maintain Your HVAC System
Perhaps the simplest and most important task you can do to maintain your HVAC system is to change your air filter on time. Believe it or not, this can save you between 5% and 10% on your cooling and heating costs.
Seal, Ventilate, and Insulate the Attic
The typical attic can reach extremely high temperatures in the summer. This heat can transfer into your living spaces and make your energy bill skyrocket. During the heating months, your furnace may be working hard to just have heat escape into a cold attic. Here’s what to do to cut costs:
- Seal: Make sure the attic door or hatch is sealed tight with weatherstripping. Use foam spray around protrusions (e.g., lighting, cables, and pipes into the attic).
- Ventilate: Make sure the eave vents are clear of debris to allow good attic ventilation.
- Insulate: Insulate your attic up to R-60 for the best insulating results.
Seal Air Ducts
If the cooled and heated airflow from the HVAC system doesn’t reach your living spaces, you’re wasting energy dollars. Check all duct-joint connections for air leaks. Wrap any leaks you find with metal tape — not cloth “duct” tape. For homes with leaky ducts, this goes a long way toward cutting costs on the HVAC bill.
Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
A standard thermostat just doesn’t cut it these days for reducing costs on your energy bill. Talk to your HVAC technician about upgrading to a smart thermostat to help you optimize home comfort while cutting costs. By programming your smart thermostat to your lifestyle, you achieve just that: greater comfort and energy savings.
To implement a plan for cutting costs of your home’s HVAC system, please contact Ace Hardware Home Services today.
