1. Appliances That Use The Most Energy
As average Americans, it’s insulting to hear that our appliances that use the most energy are appliances we purchase and not necessities. As a homeowner, you certainly don’t want your electric bill to be the biggest bill in the bank. But as many residents of Texas know, that’s exactly what happens. No matter how much money you save on your monthly electric bill, the oil and natural gas that powers our appliances continues to rise and your electric bill continues to rise as well.
As residents of New York, this isn’t entirely unsurprising. In fact, some people mistakenly think that by reducing their electricity usage, they are saving money on the heating and cooling costs of their home. But you must also realize that many other household appliances use more power than you may realize. In fact, in some cases, your HVAC system can account for as much as 30% of your total monthly consumption, you could look for an electricity provider with a more affordable rate.
For most homeowners, the rising cost of electricity and the steadily declining cost of natural gas have created the perfect storm for increased overall energy usage. Texas, like many states, is experiencing unprecedented increases in both of these energy sources, resulting in ever-increasing electricity costs and shrinking spaces for residential property. Because of this trend, many Texas homeowners are choosing to use space heaters or high capacity refrigerators that use significantly less energy while providing a higher level of comfort. This makes sense when you stop to consider the long-term costs associated with electrical power and gas. In most cases, the lower your monthly electric bill is, the lower your net energy usage will be, resulting in lessening your need for HVAC units.
Now that you understand why it is your electric consumption that determines how much you pay on your bill, you might be curious as to why it is you are paying so much money in the first place. The most common reason is simply because your utility company has over-charged you for your electricity use. This has been the case for several years now, which has resulted in an increased number of people seeking space heaters to stay warm and minimize their overall energy consumption. Another major culprit for this is the fact that, despite your space heater keeping you warm, your home is leaking heat back into your residence, which continues to cost you money at the power plant. Replacing your existing thermostat with a space-heater is often the best solution to both of these problems.
If you live in an older home, your HVAC unit, particularly if it’s an older industrial air conditioning unit, may be consuming more energy than it should be, simply due to the age of your HVAC system. It may be time for a replacement. If you don’t want to wait and you feel like you can easily do something about it, consider purchasing a space-heater as well as a new air conditioner. Many people who have made the change have noticed drastic improvements in their total energy bill and improved comfort levels in their home.
Finally, ceiling fans may not seem like they consume a whole lot of electricity. In some cases, this could be true. However, it is important to understand that the heat from your fans is transferred from the floor to the air, which then travels into your room. Fans, regardless of whether they are ceiling fans or not, require electricity to operate properly, and if you have a room in your house that is drafty, this could result in a lot more wasted energy. Ceiling fans with light kits have been known to substantially improve the comfort levels in a room as well as drastically reduce the amount of energy that you use in your home. Therefore, while it is true that most ceiling fans use a great deal of electricity, the good news is that in many cases, replacing your existing fan with a modern HVAC solution can actually lower your bills and increase your comfort.
2. AC Maintenance
If you have been putting of scheduling your annual spring AC repair, now is the best time to do it. Like annual oil changes for your cars, AC maintenance is not something which is convenient or optional. Your air conditioning unit and those expansion bellows require attention and care from an expert. Even if you think you can manage the job yourself, you may end up with more problems than when you started. Instead of suffering through it, schedule the job today.
Before you call a specialist to take care of your AC, make sure you have scheduled your yearly AC maintenance. This way, the service technician will know what he is looking for and will not have to hunt around for the part you need. Most air conditioning maintenance usually takes place in the garage of your home. This is the best place, since there are less moisture and other factors, such as temperature, that can affect the proper functioning of the cooling system.
The main thing you should be aware of in your yearly AC maintenance is the need for clean air filters. The air filter has two functions. One is to prevent dirt and debris from entering the system and clogging the air flow. Secondly, the filter traps the dust and other particles that might enter the cooling system. Dust can prevent the evaporator coils from working properly by reducing the amount of water vapor that enters the system. In addition, it can reduce the life of the coils.
When you begin your regular AC maintenance, you will probably notice that your heating and cooling system to work more efficiently. This means that you are saving money on energy and on your electric bill. The cost of operating the AC in the winter and the summer months is usually greater during the hotter season. If you can keep your heating and cooling system running efficiently, you will save on your energy bills. On the flip side, if you neglect your air conditioner maintenance, you will have to pay higher costs for operation and repair because of the poor maintenance practices.
Having regular maintenance with your HVAC systems is just like brushing your teeth regularly. Just remember to floss each day, even when you aren’t using the bathroom. Just cleaning the area between the blades and between the coils helps to keep the area free from buildup and other places where dirt and debris can accumulate. Keeping the system clean is another way to prevent costly repairs and replacements later. You will also save on your heating and cooling repair bills by having less maintenance work to do in the future.
The refrigerant level in your AC system is important to ensure that it is operating at its peak performance levels all year long. The conditioner requires the right amount of refrigerant to cool the interior of your home. When the refrigerant level drops, the conditioner shuts down to conserve power to cool the interior of your home. Regular maintenance with your AC is the best way to make sure that you are maximizing the life of your AC and preventing expensive repairs and replacements down the road.
3. Ways To Lower Your Heating And Cooling Costs
Many people think that they have no options when it comes to trying to find ways to lower your heating and cooling costs. While there are many things you can do yourself, in order to save money on your home energy bills, sometimes you need to turn to a company. There are many professional services available to help you reduce your costs.
When you start looking for a professional service you will see that there are two types. There are services which are offered free of charge, and there are those which come at a price. Some of the services that are free are really great and can really help you save money. However, you do need to be careful when searching for them online. Many times you can end up with spam and junk mail, and not receive the help that you were originally promised. Companies who charge for their services are a bit easier to deal with. You can call them up and ask if they can lower your costs. If they are willing to do this, you won’t have to worry about dealing with any spam or junk mail. In addition, if you like what they suggest, they will definitely contact your current HVAC provider to see if they can do anything else which would be similar to what you are suggesting. If they do agree to perform these services for you, it will definitely be at an affordable price.