What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Tucker?
If you’re wanting to save money, a great place to begin 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 necessitate a big investment of money or time. If you haven’t scheduled your furnace service for the year, that’s an ideal place to start. We also have a few additional tips that can help keep your costs as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you get a hold of your local utility provider, they will come conduct an energy audit of your home. These services are often provided free-of-charge and account for 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 things that can improve your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have evolved quite a bit, and the technology behind them only continues to evolve. 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 change to help you save money and improve efficiency while you’re away. When you return home, everything goes back to normal 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 correct adjustment.
The Department of Energy notes that a well programmed thermostat can
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 remaining comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are several different models to select from so pick the one that best fits your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes often, a 7-day model is probably your best solution. They give you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These usually have four possible temperature stages each day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are best if you maintain the same schedule on weekdays and a different one for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re almost to the point where your system should 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 better the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C pros will help you make a well-informed decision that suits you and your needs.
If you’re not there yet, a simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system working 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 possibilities, give us a call at 770-450-1539.