Here are a few tips to help you get through the dog days of summer and knock a little bit off your utility bill.

1. Make sure your filters are clean.

Check them out on a monthly basis. If they are clean, go ahead and leave them. If they’re dirty, either clean or replace them.

2. Seal your windows.

Take a look at your windows to ensure they are caulked and sealed properly.

3. Lower your thermostat.

If you normally set your thermostat at 72, try raising it a couple of degrees and turning on some ceiling fans.

4. Check all weather striping.

Your home will stay more comfortable if you have proper weather stripping on all your exterior doors and windows.

5. Clean your outdoor unit.

Walk outside and make sure that the outdoor unit is clean and free of debris.

6. Install an attic zipper seal.

Your home is pulling hot air from your attic through the door. We can install an attic zipper to prevent that from happening.

You do your best to keep things cozy with your HVAC system. On those swelteringly hot summer days, you turn your AC on full power. In the midst of chilly winters, you have your furnace working overtime. Maintaining a comfortable home is important to you and your family but being comfortable is getting awfully expensive!

Schedule Frequent Tune-Ups & Maintenance

The right HVAC maintenance increases the life of your furnace or air conditioner – extending your investment and ensuring your comfort isn’t interrupted during the most intolerable temperatures of the season. To keep your systems running properly, have a tune-up completed twice a year: once in the spring for your AC unit and once in the fall for your furnace. (Heat pump owners should have two tune-ups per year in the spring and fall.)

Maximize Return Air & Filters

Your vents need at least 6 inches of clearance from all furniture or drapes to ensure proper system breathing. Since these vents feed air back into your HVAC unit, also make sure they’re clean by inspecting the filters (usually somewhere near your unit) at least once a month. Replace these filters (or clean reusable ones) as often as they appear dirty. Sometimes, your HVAC service provider has discount offers on packages of filters, so be sure to check.

Don’t Forget the Attic

Your attic is a crucial part of ensuring your home comfort and utility cost savings. Protect your comfort (and budget) from the elements with a minimum of 18 inches of attic insulation. Also, make sure your attic stairs are sealed properly, as they allow a lot of air to escape from your home. Have an HVAC professional install an attic zipper seal over stairways to prevent attic air leakage.

When you do your best to balance your budget with your home comfort level, simple solutions are easy to overlook. You don’t have to resort to minimum heating and cooling to save money. Think more along the lines of long-term solutions. Schedule frequent system tune-ups, and keep in mind, your HVAC money-saving solution might boil down to a simple filter replacement. Increased energy efficiency decreases your utility costs.

Want to discuss more home energy saving tips and tactics? Call the Comfort Consultants from On Time Experts at 281-694-7946

Meet the Author
Randy Kelley
Randy Kelley

Owner

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