With the New Year upon us so quickly, now would be a great time for homeowners to consider making New Year’s Resolutions to keep their home’s energy costs down for 2021.
Because the average homeowner in the U.S. spends an estimated $1,400 a year on energy costs (according to move.org) and easily half of that goes to heating and cooling — saving money is essential.
At Fairfield-Hamilton Heating & Cooling, we take pride in offering our amazing customers the most superior HVAC products and services the industry has to offer — affordable heating, cooling and air quality solutions to help our fellow community members keep their homes safe, comfortable and energy efficient all year long.
Furthermore, because we also like helping homeowners save money, the following is our list of ways to save on energy costs in 2021:
Top 10 Energy Saving Tips for 2021
1. Getting a whole-home humidifier.
On top of the many health benefits that come with using a whole-home humidifier during the wintertime, the energy savings of this Indoor Air Quality product can be as much as 20 percent off heating costs. The reason they save so much is because humidity keeps warmed air inside a home much longer; it holds heat and makes the heated air feel warmer. Not to mention humidifiers help residents sleep better, preventing snoring and keeping skin from drying out in addition to preventing static electricity and wood from becoming damaged.
2. Seasonal Maintenance is essential.
Because furnace and A/C tune-ups are included in every seasonal maintenance visit, making sure this service is provided on your HVAC system will save you money and keep you safe while helping you stay more comfortable throughout each season of usage. Additionally, having a certified technician perform maintenance on your heating and cooling equipment is the best way to avoid having to deal with an emergency breakdown, which usually happens suddenly and when you’d least expect it.
3. Working with your thermostat.
If you can turn down your thermostat a few degrees during the cold months and get by, or if you can keep it up a few notches higher during the summer, consider doing so because the savings could easily shave an estimated $30 a month off of your home’s overall energy costs. Wearing thicker clothing during the winter will help with this. Plus during the summer you can use fans.
In any case, regardless, upgrading to a Wi-Fi Thermostat or Smart Thermostat will save you even more money. Smart thermostats and programmable thermostats don’t cost much these days and they pay for themselves quickly. These modern devices enable you to adjust your home’s temperature from your smartphone, tablet or any other device and they learn your schedule to adjust themselves automatically while you’re sleeping or while you are away at work to give your system, and budget, a break.
4. Change HVAC air filters regularly.
If your air filters become clogged, they can cause your system to have to work a lot harder than necessary, increasing strain on your heating and cooling equipment that causes premature wear and tear as your systems struggle to keep up with the desired temperature levels. By checking and changing your air filters regularly, like every month during the winter, you save more money in a host of ways.
5. Update your HVAC equipment before it’s too outdated.
If your furnace, A/C or heat pump is beyond 10 to 15 years old, it’s a wise idea to begin to think about replacing them. By planning ahead, you can prevent equipment failure, expensive repair bills and energy wasting. Furthermore, you’ll be able to install the new equipment when it’s convenient and cost-effective. By doing this, a great deal of homeowners find their new energy savings to be drastic. Usually, the ends justify the means, especially when you account for the costs of having to repair a system that’s still going to need to be replaced down the road. Additionally, if you do decide to update your HVAC system, this is also a good time to consider having a smart thermostat or an air quality device like a whole-home humidifier installed as well. These devices come cheaper as add-ons with the purchase of a new system and they improve energy efficiency tremendously while enabling you to customize your home comfort system according to your needs.
6. Decrease temperature on the dishwasher and washing machine.
Dishwashers and washing machines use a lot of heated water from your home’s water supply each time you use them. Whenever you use these appliances, remember that heating up all that water costs more when it’s colder outside. You might be surprised by how fine you can get by using cooler water to save money. Some homeowners even lower the temperature on their hot water heaters as well.
7. Keep radiators, air registers and baseboard heaters clean.
In addition to keeping these areas that give off heat clean, make sure there isn’t any sort of furniture, carpeting or draperies blocking or obstructing any of them as well. If anything is blocking the heat that your baseboards, registers or radiators are releasing, it can force your system to have to run longer cycles, which will cost you more money to operate. It’s just good practice to keep them clean for safety and efficiency reasons.
8. Fix leaks in ductwork.
If you have damaged or loose ductwork that’s permitting any treated air to leak out, finding these leaks and having them fixed will save you all sorts of money over time. Because it costs so much to heat and cool a home, it is imperative to keep all the treated air inside your home and flowing to where it needs to flow in order to keep your system running like it was intended to, if you suspect you’re having any sort of issues with your air duct system, give us a call right away as we’d be happy to help!
9. Close your chimney flue.
We all realize how fireplaces can be nice and warm. Fires in them increase that wonderful holiday ambiance. Nonetheless, leaving your chimney’s flue damper open all winter long is extremely energy draining and expensive! An open flue enables a ton of warmed air to run up and escape out your chimney in a hurry. This, in turn, forces your system to have to work overtime to heat your home. In the end, this makes energy bills go sky high just like that warm air — all the while putting unnecessary strain on your system that causes premature wear and tear.
10. Upgrade old windows.
Although this can be a bit pricey, newer windows that are designed to save energy can pay for themselves quickly, especially when the windows you have are energy draining monstrosities that were installed a long time ago. Getting a quote with the estimated savings will give you an idea of how much you’re wasting, or better yet how much you’d be saving. Most of these quotes are free by the way, aside from the cost and convenience of your time — a price that’s well worth paying for the insight you gain.
For all your HVAC needs in 2021 — give us a call right away!
If you are looking to save on energy costs while at the same time optimize your home’s heating or cooling equipment in 2021, or if you need any other type of help related to any sort of heating, cooling or Indoor Air Quality issue, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away! We have friendly experts standing by who can guide you through any sort of HVAC problem stress free!
If you’d like to hear more about any of the products or services mentioned above, or if you want to book an appointment with an expert technician, call Fairfield-Hamilton Heating & Cooling today at 513-540-1716, or click here to schedule an appointment now!
In the meantime, Enjoy a Safe, Comfy and Happy New Year!
