As we prepare to celebrate the New Year, now is an excellent time for homeowners to make New Year’s Resolutions to keep their home’s energy costs down for 2021.
Afterall, with the average homeowner in the U.S. paying an estimated $1,400 a year on energy usage (according to move.org) and almost half of that going to heating and cooling costs — who doesn’t like saving money?.
At Lebanon Heating & Cooling, we take pride in providing our wonderful customers with the most superior products and services the industry has to offer — affordable HVAC solutions to help everyone keep their home comfortable and energy efficient all year long.
Moreover, we like helping homeowners save money. So with that said, the following is our list of ways to save on energy costs in 2021:
Top 10 Energy Saving Tips for 2021
1. Using a whole-home humidifier.
In addition to the many health benefits of using a whole-home humidifier during the wintertime, the energy savings of this Indoor Air Quality device can be as much as 20 percent. This 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 everyone sleep better, preventing snoring and skin from drying out in addition to preventing static electricity and wood from drying out and becoming damaged.
2. Consider your thermostat.
If you can turn your thermostat down a little lower during the colder months, or keep it up a little higher during the hot months, consider doing so because the savings could easily shave an estimated $30 a month off of overall energy costs. Wearing thicker clothing during the winter, while using fans more during the summer will help.
Nevertheless, with that said, having a Wi-Fi Thermostat or Smart Thermostat installed will save you even more money. Smart thermostats and programmable thermostats pay for themselves in no-time. They allow you to adjust your temperature from your smartphone, tablet or other device and they learn your routines and can adjust themselves automatically while you’re sleeping or while you are away at work.
3. Replace HVAC air filters on schedule.
When air filters are clogged and need to be replaced, they can cause your system to have to work far more 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 later by spending a little now.
4. Lower temperature on dishwasher and washing machine.
Washing machines and dishwashers use a lot of heated water from your home’s water supply each time you use them. Each time 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.
5. Clean off air registers, radiators and baseboard heaters.
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.
6. Maintenance is essential. Get a Tune-Up every year.
The furnace tune-ups that are included in a seasonal maintenance visit will save you money and keep you safe while helping you stay more comfortable throughout each season of usage. Furthermore, having a certified HVAC technician tune up your heating and cooling units is the best way to avert having to deal with an emergency breakdown, which usually happens suddenly and when you’d least expect it.
7. Find and resolve 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!
8. Close up chimney flue.
We all know how fireplaces can be nice and warm and having a fire increases that lovely holiday ambiance. Nonetheless, leaving your chimney’s flue damper open all winter long is expensive! An open flue allows a great deal of warmed air to run up and escape out your chimney quickly. 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.
9. Think about upgrading your windows if they’re older.
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.
10. Replace your HVAC equipment before it’s too outdated.
If your furnace, heat pump or AC unit is more than 10 to 15 years old, it’s a wise idea to begin to plan to replace them. By planning ahead, you can prevent unexpected equipment failure, expensive repair bills, and you’ll be able to install the new equipment when it’s convenient and cost-effective. By doing this, a lot of homeowners find the energy savings of a new system (when compared to the cost of keeping their old one), to be drastic. In most cases, 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 humidifier installed as well. These devices come cheaper as add-ons with the purchase of a new system and they greatly improve energy efficiency while allowing each homeowner to customize their home comfort level.
For any of 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 assistance related to any sort of heating, cooling or Indoor Air Quality need, 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 Lebanon Heating & Cooling today at (513) 540-1773, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
Until then, Have a Safe, Comfy and Happy New Year!
