One strategy to save money each month is to reduce your energy consumption. If you can adhere to some energy savings tips from experts, you can save money all year long. Read on to find recommended ways to minimize energy use at home that may drastically lower energy bills.
Proper Insulation of Your Home
Cold outdoor air can creep into your home throughout the winter because of insulation issues you are unaware of. In the winter, cold spots in the building may indicate an insulation issue in specific areas, while warm spots do the same in the summer. However, proper insulation from an experienced technician will ensure your home will stay comfortable year-round, regardless of the outside temperature.
Money and energy can be saved for homeowners in any climate with the proper insulation. Modern insulation methods can be customized to work in your home, even if you live in an older dwelling. Insulation is particularly important to reduce energy use if you live in extremely cold or hot regions.
Some people spend a lot of money cooling or heating their premises during extreme weather conditions. If this is the case, A/C & Plumbing Doctors could assist you in inspecting the insulation in your home. For example, additional insulation for plumbing components like pipes prevents them from freezing over the winter, meaning you can turn your thermostat down without worry. In addition, water heater insulation could reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45%.
Air Filter Replacement or Cleaning
Changing or cleaning the air filters in your home frequently is an often-forgotten element of upkeep. The filter is designed to remove contaminants from the air, which includes pollen, lint, and dirt, before redistributing it throughout the HVAC system.
With clean and efficiently working air filters, your HVAC system will run more smoothly. It will also use less energy than if they were unclean. Maintaining clean filters in the HVAC system results in less work for the system and cheaper utility costs.
Air filters are inexpensive or easy to clean, so you should set a reminder in your calendar to change or clean them regularly. Experts recommend air filter replacement or cleaning every three months. If you or a family member have allergies or other respiratory issues, filters should be changed or cleaned more often. If you are unsure about the right time to clean or change the air filters in your home or the type of air filter to use, A/C & Plumbing Doctors can always help with an inspection and advice.
Use Programmable Thermostats
A significant amount of a homeowner’s monthly budget goes toward cooling and heating the house. How much varies with individual preferences and seasons. Avoiding the temptation to adjust the thermostat lower or higher continuously may limit your energy consumption. It can also save money on your monthly energy bill.
Installing a programmable thermostat is a great way to maintain a regular temperature schedule. Temperatures can be set automatically to change the temperature setting at predetermined times of the day. For instance, a thermostat can be programmed to a lower setting during the day while you are at work.
Experts also recommend having the thermostat set to a cooler temperature when you’re sleeping under a warm blanket in the winter. You can set your programmable thermostat so that your house uses less heat at night but warms up by the time you get out of bed in the morning.
Programmable and smart thermostats make regulating the temperature in your home to save energy convenient. You can cut as much as 10% of your annual energy bill by turning the thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day.
Lowering Water Heater Temperatures
The water heater is the second most expensive power consumer in your home after the primary heating and cooling system. It supplies hot water to your sinks, washing machines, showers, and dishwashers. Failure to service and maintain your hot water system might result in extremely high energy bills. Having a technician service your water heater will make it more efficient.
Although tankless water heaters can save energy consumption by 8% to 34%, they may not produce enough hot water to supply houses with high water demands. One solution is adjusting the temperature on conventional water heaters to 120 degrees or about 20 degrees below the standard setting. Doing so saves between 6 and 10 percent on your energy bill.
A shorter shower is an option if you cannot give up the steamy, hot showers. Additionally, if you are going away from home for an extended time (such as on vacation), shutting off the water heater is another easy option to save energy and money.
Use Your Appliances Strategically
Smart and effective appliance use can positively affect your utility costs. Save money by drying multiple loads of laundry when the demand for electricity is the lowest. Using the clothes dryer in the middle of the day or any other time when demand is at its peak may cost you more in electricity bills because you are being charged a premium for the energy.
Many people do not realize that you do not need to use hot water to clean your clothes. When washing with modern machines and using a good detergent, even extremely dirty clothing will come out clean on the cold water setting.
Experts on saving energy also advise running full loads of dishes through the dishwasher. Fans and lights can be turned off when the room is unoccupied. If a microwave, game console, printer, toaster, or other appliance is not in use, unplug it. Many people do not realize that these “vampire appliances” consume energy even when powered off, contributing to your electricity bill.
Monitor Your Energy Usage
After all your efforts to reduce energy use in your household, it may be helpful to track when and how much energy you use to determine if your efforts are worthwhile. Smart meters can provide insights into your energy usage and expenditures. Monitoring your energy consumption might provide clues as to what’s consuming the most and areas where you could make cuts. If you find that you are using less energy, the information can also be a great motivator to continue your efforts to reduce energy consumption in your home.
HVAC Maintenance
A poorly maintained HVAC system may significantly increase your home energy consumption. During annual turn-ups, a technician will carefully inspect your heating and cooling systems to make sure they are clean, in good functioning order, and operating safely.
While maintenance is an upfront expense, it can save money in the long run. A/C & Plumbing Doctors technicians can identify small issues and repair them before they turn into major, costly repairs. A well-maintained heating and cooling system is also cheaper to run because it is efficient. Over time an efficient HVAC system can save you hundreds of dollars.
Work With the Professionals
At A/C & Plumbing Doctors in Gilbert, AZ we stand by our award-winning services and client satisfaction. To us, you’re more than a customer; you’re a family member. Since 2008 we have been installing, repairing, and maintaining heating and cooling systems. We also provide indoor air quality, ductwork, specialty solution, commercial HVAC, and condenser services.
Contact A/C & Plumbing Doctors today for more information regarding our products and services.
