How to Save Money on Home Heating and Cooling Bills

Owning a home is everyone’s wish, and most people will go out of their way to fulfill this dream. However, over time they will realize that owning and running a household is more than just writing the mortgage check every month. The related bills, such as maintenance, upkeep, and utility, can be “crazy”. Therefore, proper planning and strategies must be in order.

The research done by the US department of energy reveals that, on average, a household was spending approximately $3,052 annually on utility costs. On percentage, 48% went to heating and cooling their homes! This revelation might compel one to compromise on their comfort to save money. Nevertheless, when implemented, some strategies, taken from a local company that does HVAC in Nashua NH, can greatly reduce home heating and cooling bills.

Embrace a passive or non-mechanical cooling system

This approach is the least expensive when it comes to home heating and cooling. It’s also environmentally friendly due to the use of natural features. Before implementing, proper assessment of prevailing climatic conditions of their home region should be done. For instance, hot, humid climatic zones do not require heating, while cold or temperate, and cool zones may require heating and cooling.

For cooling the house, homeowners should shade walls, roofs, and windows from direct solar radiation. This reduces heat gain from direct sun and keeps the house cool. The roof should be lighter colored to reflect heat. The building should incorporate insulators for minimum heat conductivity, and the use of thermal mass should be limited to avoid storing daytime heat.

For maximum heat retention, homeowners should properly orient the windows by avoiding shading for maximum heat penetration into the house. Good thermal mass such as concrete, bricks, and stones, known to be good heat absorbers, should be used. This will go a long way in the absorption and distribution of solar heat in the house.

Implement control strategies such as operable window coverings that can be opened and closed depending on prevailing conditions. Quality curtains and blinders offer an effective solution to this strategy. Invest in a distribution mechanism whereby solar heat is transferred from the collection and storage points to other areas of the house through conduction, convection, and radiation. Small fans and blowers are very useful in this process. This non-mechanical system has proved to be an effective way of reducing cost since the focus is on the natural resource.

Invest in proper Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment are essential for home comfort. They maintain adequate air circulation through ventilation and filtration. However, when not properly checked, it can be expensive to maintain.

To curb unnecessary expenses, homeowners should buy quality equipment with High Seasonal Energy Efficient Ration. This demonstrates its ability to cool in a certain season compared to energy consumption in that period. Households should examine this ratio of any air conditioner before purchasing to ensure acquiring an energy-efficient machine for their needs.

They should consider buying variability speed compressors as opposed to the single-stage and dual-stage compressors. This is because it offers flexibility by changing speed with different climatic conditions. This ensures consistency in cooling or heating with minimal energy wastage. It’s durable with less tear and wears hence enables households to save big.

HVAC’s type and brand should be compatible with current technological features for automatic control and machine regulation strategies. Other features to consider may include the machine’s size regarding your space, quality, and reviewed performance. All in all, individual households should choose what suits their needs and budget.

Ensure Regular maintenance services of Heating and Cooling Systems

Prevention is better than cure. Proper and regular maintenance of HVAC systems can reduce breakdown related costs as much as 95%. With regular servicing, households can reduce energy bills through efficient and effective system operation. The regular servicing improves air quality, creates the comfort of the household occupants, and extended machine life.

Normal routine practices like keeping the condenser unit or the heat pump clean are essential. Given that most of them are kept outside, they are prone to attract dust particles. Cleaning the metal fins using a water hose will help a great deal. Also, consider trimming overgrown vegetation around the heat pump to prevent interference with airflow. Ensure that the filters are regularly changed, at least after 1-3 months.

When choosing a filter for replacement, the rating is very crucial. Those rated MERV 7-11 are effective because they increase the system airflow. Therefore, homeowners should work with high-rated filters for maximum efficiency.

It is desirable to always check on the draining pipe and pan. Ensure there no molds or algae growing in-between as this is a known cause for system breakdown. Suction the dirt with a wet-dry vacuum and wash it with either bleach or vinegar. Above all, schedule routine examination with a professional maintenance technician. Ensure that they thoroughly inspect and report the functionality status of the fan, coils, air filter, drain lines, refrigerant level, and heat exchanger.

Adapt good household practices

The use of connected technology and energy-efficient strategies are the major known household practices that increase HVAC system efficiency and reduce cost. Homeowners must always endeavor to save energy when not in use. Switching off or adjusting temperatures regularly according to climate will help in saving money.

Technology has made it easy by availing gadgets for this course. A smart thermostat and sensor will go a long way in creating healthy atmospheric balance in one’s home. Unlike manual control, where physical presence and input are needed, these devices are programmed to sense habits and real-time climatic changes and adjust automatically.

Households should, therefore, connect with technological advancement. This will increase energy saving and reduce expenditure. They should use smartphones to impose necessary controls such as switching on or off the machines when not in use.

Homeowners should embrace the use of occupancy sensors to control the HVAC system. These electronic sensors can detect the presence of people in a room and adjust automatically. For instance, when they sense that a space is unoccupied, they send a signal, turning down the conditioned airflow to that specific room. This practice can save up to 30% of energy when correctly implemented.

The use of underfloor air distribution techniques can provide customized comfort while decreasing cost. The conditioned air goes through plenum space and not through duct overhead, hence reaching the room occupants via floor diffuser.

With all these strategies, it’s easy to have a comfortable home with manageable heating and cooling bills. Embrace them, save energy and see changes in your pocket.