What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Huffman?
If you’re wanting to save money, a great place to look is right inside your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home typically makes up about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t require a big investment of money or time. If you haven’t scheduled your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have a few additional tips that can help keep your costs as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you get a hold of your local utility provider, they will come to do an energy audit of your home. These services are usually provided free of charge and include everything present on your utility bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Many utility companies also have rebates for insulation and other things that can increase your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have come a long way, and the technology behind them only continues to expand. For example, the iComfort S30 can utilize the GPS In your smartphone to determine when you’re leaving and make the proper change to help you save money and improve efficiency while you’re not home. When you return home, everything returns to normal, and you don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s also able to adjust to your routine, so when baseball and football seasons start again, your thermostat can make the proper adjustment.
The Department of Energy notes that a well-programmed thermostat could
decrease your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while remaining comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are several different models to select from so pick the one that best fits your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes often, a 7-day model is more than likely your best solution. They offer you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These normally have four possible temperature periods every day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are ideal if you keep the same schedule on weekdays and another for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re almost to the point where your system ought to be replaced, it’s a good idea to research all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time comes. View the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of air conditioners and the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnaces. The higher the ratings, the higher the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C pros will help you make a well-informed decision that meets you and your needs.
If you’re not at that point, simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system working smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t scheduled your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or possibilities, give us a call at (832) 957-9332.
