With everyone bringing in the new year this week, we consider this an excellent time to encourage homeowners to make New Year’s Resolutions to keep energy costs in check for 2021.
Because the average homeowner in the U.S. spends on average $1,400 a year on energy, according to move.org, and almost half of that goes into heating and cooling costs, controlling these two expenses will save you a small fortune overtime as the average Ohioan spends in upwards of $400 a month on utilities.
At Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning, we take pride in providing our amazing customers with the absolute best installation, maintenance and repair services you’ll find in the region. With each and every service call we get, we make it our mission to provide the most value possible at reasonable prices, in addition to providing superior HVAC solutions to help everyone keep their home comfortable and energy efficient all year long.
Having said that, without further ado, the following is our list of the top 10 ways to save on energy costs in 2021:
Top 10 Energy Saving Tips for 2021
1. Install a whole-home humidifier.
On top of the health benefits of having a whole-home humidifier, the energy savings from having one during the colder months can be as much as 20 percent. This is because humidity keeps your warm, forced air inside your house longer, holding heat longer and making the heated air even feel warmer.
2. Think about your thermostat.
It only takes a few seconds to adjust your thermostat. If you’re able to go a little lower in the winter, or higher during the summer, adjust it accordingly and the savings could easily shave off an estimated $30 a month from your energy bill.
To save even more, however, if you have not done so already, having a Smart Thermostat installed will save you even more money, and pay for itself in no-time, as these devices can be controlled from your smartphone or other device and they learn your habits so they can adjust themselves when you are sleeping or away.
3. Keep air registers, radiators and baseboard heaters open and clean.
In addition to cleaning them, make sure you don’t have any carpeting, furniture or draperies blocking any of these areas where heat emanates. Putting furniture or anything else over registers, or in front of radiators blocks, the amount of heat that these registers/radiators can emit into the room, thus causing your system to have to run longer cycles, which will cost you more money to operate.
4. Close your chimney flue.
Even though having fires in residential fireplaces feel warm and cozy and add to holiday ambiance, having an open flue damper during the colder months will draw out a lot of warm air as long as it’s open. This will force your system into working overtime to heat your home while making energy bills go sky high as well.
5. Maintenance, or heating system tune-ups are a must.
Furnace tune-ups, along with seasonal maintenance, will save you money and keep you safe while helping you stay more comfortable throughout the winter. Moreover, having a professional tune up your heating system is also the best way to avoid having to deal with emergency breakdowns, which tend to happen suddenly, and often when you least expect it.
6. Find leaks in ductwork.
If you have damaged or loose ductwork and it’s causing air to leak out, finding and fixing these air leaks will save you a small fortune over time. Because it’s important to keep all the warm air you are paying for inside your home, and keep your system running like it was designed to, if you suspect any sort of issues with your ductwork, give us a call right away for help!
7. Changing air filters on schedule.
An air filter that’s clogged and needs to be changed can cause your system to have to work far more harder than it should, adding strain and causing wear and tear on your HVAC system as it struggles to provide the temperature levels you require in your home. By replacing your air filters regularly, you save more by spending a little.
8. Consider having energy saving windows installed.
Although sometimes expensive, energy saving windows can pay for themselves over time. Just getting a quote and estimate of savings will help. Most estimates are free, aside from the cost of your time.
9. Lower your dishwasher and washing machine’s water temperatures.
Your dishwasher and washing machine use hot water from your home’s water supply and drain it in a hurry. Keep in mind that heating up all that water is far more expensive in colder weather. As such, lowering the temperature settings on these devices will save you money.
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 giving us a call!
For homeowners looking to save on energy costs and/or optimize their home’s heating and cooling equipment in 2021, keep in mind that there’s no substitute for seasonal maintenance and vigilance. Smart homeowners save money by being proactive with their home’s HVAC equipment, rather than being reactive.
If you’re interested in any of the products or services mentioned above, or to learn more or to book an appointment with an expert technician, call Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning today at (740) 625-2320 or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
Otherwise, from our family to yours: Happy New Year!
