Fall is right around the corner and with it comes the beautiful fall colors and also cooler weather. The fall season is also a great time to save money on your heating and cooling costs. Check out the following tips to reduce your energy bills this fall.
1. Turn down your thermostat.It's a simple thing to do, but very cost effective. You will save around 2% on your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat! According to the Department of Energy, you can easily save energy in the fall by setting your thermostat to 68°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home. They recommend turning your thermostat back 7°-10° for 8 hours a day to see the largest energy savings.
If you have a home with a fireplace, make sure you close the flue when the fireplace is not in use. During the fall and winter, fireplaces are a great way to stay warm and cozy, but open flue dampers actually draw warm air out of your house. If the flue is open all day, you will be losing heat out of your chimney that could be staying in your house keeping it warm. If your flue is closed and you still think you might be losing heat, check for leaks. To do this, light a match and hold it by the seal of the fireplace's damper. If the flame gets drawn up toward the flue, you probably have a leak. Contact your local, licensed and insured chimney company to get your flue sealed.
We've talked numerous times in the past about the benefits of humidifiers. But, did you know that you can see upwards of 20% in energy savings from using a humidifier? With a humidifier in your home, you are able to set your thermostat lower. Moist air is warmer than dry air, so with the use of a humidifier you will achieve a warmer indoor temperature at a lower setting.
Dust on the warm air registers, baseboard heaters, radiators or in ducts acts as insulation and wastes heat. Make sure you vacuum them regularly. You also want to move any furniture, draperies or carpeting that may be blocking them. If anything is put over or in front of the register or radiator, it blocks the amount of heat that can be emitted into the room. This causes your system to run harder and longer, thus costing you more money.
Not only can this save you money on your heating bill, it also provides ease of mind as any potential danger will be detected. Tuning-up your HVAC system is the best way to avoid sudden emergency repairs when you need your heating and cooling system the most.
If you have ceiling fans in your house, another way to save energy t this fall is by changing the direction of the fan's airflow. Hot air rises, so in the fall and winter the blades should be spinning in a clockwise direction. This will push the warm air that rises up to the ceiling down to the floor, redistributing the heat.
On those cold but sunny days, keep your blinds and drapes open. This will allow the naturally occurring solar heat to warm your home during the day. As the sun sets, close the blinds and drapes to keep the warm air in and prevent the heat from escaping.
The Department of Energy also reports that replacing dirty filters with clean air filters can reduce your energy consumption up to 15%. Your heating and cooling system is responsible for nearly half of your energy usage alone which means you could potentially save around 7.5% on your energy bill each month.
No matter which HVAC system you have, every unit needs a quality filter that fits properly in order to keep your indoor air quality clean and your unit running at its maximum efficiency. US Home Filter can supply you with the best and most efficient HVAC filter available! Changing the filter is as important as changing the oil in your car and US Home Filter makes filters that fit all AC/HVAC units. From standard to custom air filters, to whole-house filters, grille filters and humidifier filters, we have all of your filter needs covered!
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