Regularly having your HVAC system cleaned and tuned up can boost its performance and help lower your energy costs because a well-maintained HVAC system can use much less energy than one that is not. But what else can you do? Here are more simple steps you can perform to revamp your La Puente home’s energy efficiency.
- Seal any leaks around your windows and doors. Apply caulk or weatherstripping in the spots you notice leaks.
- Insulate your walls and attic. You likely equate insulation with keeping your house warm throughout the winter, but it also helps in the summer. When it’s hot outside, heat is continually seeking cooler places—like your home. Make sure you have sufficient insulation to keep the heat from flowing through your attic and walls and decrease your home comfort.
- Have your ducts cleaned? Clean ducts make it easier for air to flow through your home, which makes your air conditioner’s job simpler.
- While you’re at it, ensure your ducts are properly sealed to stop air leaks and insulate them if needed. If they are leaking, that means you are losing valuably heated or cooled air. Properly sealing and insulating ducts is even more critical if they are placed in the attic, a vented crawlspace, or any other unconditioned area.
- Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. To help possibly keep your cooling bill lower, keep the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures as small as possible. According to the Department of Energy, you can save nearly 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7° to 10°F from its usual setting for 8 hours a day. If you turn on a ceiling fan in conjunction with your air conditioner, you can raise your thermostat setting by about 4°F without negatively disturbing your comfort.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Sure, thermostats can be adjusted physically, but programmable thermostats make managing your home’s comfort and efficiency simpler. You can automatically modify your temperature when you’re away from home or when you’re sleeping while avoiding discomfort because your home’s temperature will return to normal before you get home or wake up.
- If you decide not to use a programmable thermostat, avoid setting your thermostat at a colder-than-usual setting when you turn on your air conditioner. Your house won’t cool down any faster and will only cost you additional money in energy.
- Don’t place lamps, TV sets, or other heat-generating appliances near your thermostat. This practice can make your air conditioner run longer than needed because your thermostat senses heat from these appliances and thinks your home needs cooled.
- [Use|Utilize|Take advantage of]54] your windows. If it’s cooler at night, turn off your AC and open the windows. Shut the windows and your curtains or blinds in the morning to trap the cooler air and hinder heat gain through the windows.
- Invest in new, energy-efficient equipment. If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not meeting your home-comfort needs, call Temp Air System Inc. for an assessment. It may be time to replace it with ENERGY STAR®-qualified equipment that can cut your annual energy bill by more than $115, according to energystar.gov.
If you’ve got more questions about how to increase your home’s energy efficiency, think it could be time for more energy-efficient equipment, or simply want to arrange a regular maintenance appointment, call Temp Air System Inc. and our experts are ready to help.
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