Getting More From Your HVAC System
The average U.S. household spends about $1,300 each year on utility bills. While there are a number of factors that affect energy consumption—efficiency of major appliances, thermostat settings, etc.—it is possible to make a home more energy efficient, creating the potential for big savings on future bills. Simply by choosing ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and making energy-saving improvements to your home, you could save as much as 30 percent on your energy bills. The experts at Mies Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, offer these ten basic tips:
- Have your heating/cooling (HVAC) system maintained by a professional;
- Between service visits, follow the manufacturer’s routine maintenance
- directions;
- If you are purchasing a new HVAC system, look for the ENERGY
- STAR label to get the highest efficiency available in the market;
- Check the filters in your HVAC unit. If they’re the permanent
- kind, they should be cleaned with mild detergent every 30 to 60 days. Replaceable filters should be replaced just as often;
- If the HVAC system is running, keep the windows and doors closed;
- Caulk and weatherstrip to close air gaps; and
- During cooling season, don’t wash/dry clothes during the warmest times of day (late morning and afternoon).
One of the reasons why a new system may be a good long-term investment is that technological improvements, combined with governmental regulations, have led to more energy-efficient appliances. Even the least efficient systems currently available in the U.S. will generally cost less to operate than a system that was installed 10 years ago. Most manufacturers offer higher-efficiency models which will save you even more in utility bills. However, these systems generally cost more initially, so it’s a good idea to look for the right balance between first cost and long-term savings.
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Contact Mies Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning of Fond du Lac
Phone: 920.921.5688
Fax: 920.921.9778
Email: info@miesplumbing.com
Or contact us by mail:
Mies Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning
9 Eighth Street
Fond du Lac, WI 54935