As we prepare to bring in a new year this week, now is an excellent time to make our New Year’s Resolution to keep our energy bills in check for 2021.
With the average U.S. homeowner spending roughly $1,400 a year on energy bills, according to move.org, and almost half of that going to heating and cooling costs, controlling these two expenses will save you hundreds of dollars every year as the average Ohioan spends around $400 a month on utilities.
At Five Star Heating & Cooling Group, we take pride in providing our highly-valued customers with the absolute best installation, maintenance and repair services you’ll find in the market. With each and every service call we get, we make it our mission to provide value at a reasonable price, in addition to providing superior HVAC solutions to keep your house comfortable and energy efficient all year long.
So without further ado, the following is our list of the top 10 ways to save on energy costs in 2021:
1. About your thermostat
This might seem overly simple. Trust us, however, when we say it’s not. It takes a few seconds to adjust your thermostat when you’re able to go a little lower in the winter, or higher during the summer. The savings could easily shave off $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.
2. Consider a whole-home humidifier
In addition to the health benefits of having a whole-home humidifier, the energy savings you can get from one during the colder months can be as much as 20 percent. This is because humidity keeps your warm, forced air trapped in the house longer, holding heat longer and making the air feel warmer.
3. Clean air registers, radiators and baseboard heaters
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. Keep your chimney flue closed
While having fires in fireplaces is warm, cozy and can add holiday ambiance, having an open flue damper will draw out warm air as long as it is open. This will force your system into working overtime to heat your home.
5. Get a heating system tune-up
Furnace tune-ups, along with seasonal maintenance, can save you money and keep you safe while helping you stay more comfortable. Getting a tune up on your heating system is also the best way to avoid having to deal with a sudden, emergency breakdown, which tend to happen at the least convenient of times.
6. Check your ductwork for leaks.
If you’ve got split, fallen, perforated or otherwise damaged or loose ductwork, fixing these issues will save you a small fortune. Because it’s important to keep all the warm air you are paying for inside your home, if you suspect issues with your ductwork, call us right away for help!
7. Keep air filters clean
A blocked return from an air filter that needs changed can cause your system to work far more harder than normal, than it should, in addition to making it harder for your HVAC system to provide the temperature that you desire inside your home. By replacing your air filters regularly, you save more by spending a little while ensuring your system isn’t being overstressed.
8. Consider storm windows or energy saving windows
Although sometimes expensive, these can pay for themselves. Just getting a quote and estimate of savings will help. Most estimates are free, aside from the cost of your time, of course!
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 of that water is much more costly in colder weather. Lowering the temperature will save you money over time.
10. Replace older HVAC equipment before it’s too outdated.
If your furnace, heat pump or air conditioner is older than 10 to 15 years old, it’s a good idea to start to plan for replacement. By doing so, you can avoid the possibility of unexpected mechanical failure, expensive repair bills, and you can install the new equipment at a time that’s convenient. Furthermore, this is also a good time to install a smart thermostat or an air quality device like a humidifier — because these add-ons come cheaper with the purchase of a new system and they improve energy efficiency and enable you to customize your comfort level.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to give us a call!
For homeowners looking to optimize their home’s heating and cooling systems in 2021, keep in mind there’s no substitute for preventative 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 from Five Star Heating & Cooling Group call (614) 490-7550, or schedule an appointment online now.
In any case, from our friends and family to yours: Happy New Year!
