What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Front Royal?
If you’re trying 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 typically makes up about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t need a large investment of money or time. If you haven’t arranged for your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have some additional tips that can help keep your expenses as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you get a hold of your local utility provider, they will come do an energy audit of your home. These services are often provided free-of-charge and assess everything that is popping up on your energy bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Most utility companies also offer rebates for insulation and other items that can increase your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have evolved quite a bit, and the technology behind them only continues to change. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to employ the GPS In your smartphone to figure out when you’re leaving and makes the proper alteration to help you save money and boost efficiency while you’re not home. When you return home, everything goes to the way it was and you don’t have to worry about making any changes. 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
lower 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 decide from so pick the one that best adapts to your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes quite a bit, a 7-day model is likely your best solution. They provide you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These usually have four possible temperature stages per day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are best if you keep the same schedule on weekdays and another for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re close to the point where your system will need to be replaced, it’s a good idea to view all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time comes. Check out 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 better the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C professionals will help you make a well-informed decision that meets you and your needs.
If you’re not there yet, 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 choices, give us a call at 540-636-3396.