What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Savage?
If you’re wanting to save money, a great place to look is right inside your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home usually makes up about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t require a big investment of money or time. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year, that’s the perfect place to start. We also have some additional tips that can help keep your costs as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you contact your local utility provider, they will come conduct an energy audit of your home. These services are usually provided free-of-charge and include everything that is popping up on your energy bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Many utility companies also can provide rebates for insulation and other equipment that can boost your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have come a long way, and the technology behind them only continues to evolve. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to employ the GPS In your smartphone to detect when you’re leaving and makes the proper adjustment to help you save money and boost efficiency while you’re away. When you return home, everything goes to the way it was and you don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s also able to adjust to your routine, so when baseball and football seasons start again, your thermostat can make the proper adjustment.
The Department of Energy states that a well programmed thermostat may
decrease your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while still staying comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are several different models to choose from so pick the one that best meets your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes often, a 7-day model is more than likely your best solution. They offer you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These typically have four possible temperature stages every day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are perfect if you keep the same schedule on weekdays and a different one for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re nearing the point where your system ought to be replaced, it’s a good idea to view all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time arrives. Look at the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of air conditioners and the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnaces. The higher the ratings, the higher the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C professionals will help you make a well-informed decision that adapts to you and your needs.
If you’re not at that point, a simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system operating smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or options, give us a call at 952-373-0377.