Photo by Shannon Kringen.
If making your home more efficient is one of your resolutions this year, Seattle HVAC maintenance and service customers can read our 10 steps to making your home more efficient here.
- Change your filters. Especially during the winter when your furnace is working hard, check your filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. A dirty filter will slow down air flow causing your system to work harder. This is inefficient and can lead to excessive wear and tear and expensive repairs.
- Seal drafty windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping. This is an easy first step to improving your home’s efficiency. Air that leaks through your home's windows, doors, and other openings wastes a lot of energy and increases your utility costs. Sealing drafty windows and doors can make a big difference in your utility bills.
- Decrease water heater temperature. Many hot water heater manufacturers advise setting water heater thermostats at 140ºF, but most households usually only require them to be set at 120ºF. Reducing your water heater temperature to 120ºF can save energy and money.
- Add attic and wall insulation. In addition to sealing your windows and doors, adding insulation to your attic and within your walls can help cut down on the amount of air that leaks out of your home. Adding insulation can help cut down on your energy bill and improve the overall comfort of your home.
- Change to energy-efficient lightbulbs. Compared to traditional lightbulbs, energy-efficient lightbulbs typically use 25-80% less energy and last 3-5 times longer.
- Use low flow faucets and shower heads. Water-efficient faucets and faucet accessories such as shower heads can help you reduce your water use in your home and save you money on water bills.
- Buy EnergyStar label appliances and electronics. EnergyStar is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program whose mission is to promote energy-efficient products and practices. Buying appliances that have the EnergyStar rating means those products have met superior energy efficient requirements.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week, like work or school. When no one is home, having your thermostat set at a lower temperature can save you money. In fact, through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
- Schedule HVAC maintenance. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Contact us to schedule your Seattle HVAC maintenance visit. We also offer expert heater and AC repairs as needed.
- Consider replacing your HVAC system. If your home’s heating or cooling system is more than 10 years old, or not keeping your house comfortable, contact us to have it evaluated by a professional Seattle HVAC contractor. If your system is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, replacing your air conditioner or heater with a unit that has the ENERGY STAR rating can help you significantly cut your home energy bill.
For more ideas on how to save energy and increase your home’s efficiency, visit EnergyStar.