Although energy costs aren’t climbing quite as drastically as they did a few years ago now that we have the benefit of abundant natural gas to heat the nation’s homes and businesses, your utility bill still comprises a whopping percentage of your expenses — on average, as much as 7% of your annual income. Further, about half of your energy expenses go to heating and cooling bills.
When you keep your energy expenses down, the savings you can enjoy is like giving yourself a raise. Read on for how to defeat high heating costs by becoming more energy efficient.
Lowering Your Utility Bill
No doubt about it: The major energy expense for Dayton-area homeowners is for heating. So here are some tips for keeping your heating bill as low as possible.
- On sunny days, open drapes to take advantage of passive solar energy that will warm your home.
- If it’s not sunny, close curtains to keep conditioned air from leaking out of windows.
- Speaking of air leaks, go over your home and find places — using a lit incense stick, note where the smoke wavers — where cold air is infiltrating. Use weather stripping, caulk, and insulation to plug leaks.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Set your schedule to lower energy use during times when you are sleeping or away from home. You can also use this method in the summer. Don’t set the thermostat too low when frigid temperatures prevail or you risk freezing pipes.
- Reverse the blades on your ceiling fans so they push warm air down from the ceiling to foot level. Blades should go clockwise.
- Change your air filter. A dirty filter slows down airflow, and your system can’t cool or heat as it should.
- Schedule preventative maintenance. Your HVAC tech will make sure parts are functioning as they should so that your heating system works efficiently. Your tech should also check your ductwork to make sure it’s intact.
For more on keeping heating costs under control, contact Ace Hardware Home Services. We serve the Dayton area with quality HVAC maintenance, repairs, and installations.
