6 Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill This Fall
There can be tremendous charm and appeal associated with living in an older home, but the reality of the situation is that they can also be very expensive to maintain, in terms of heating and cooling. If you happen to be a homeowner of one of these older homes, you have probably already discovered that your utility bills can get pretty outrageous.
Then if you have any extra air leaks or gaps in your weathertight frame, there can be an even greater loss of conditioned air, and your HVAC systems will have to work harder to maintain comfortable heating and cooling. There are lots of things you can do which will help to lower your utility bills each season, and some of the best ways to do this are described below.
Replace the windows
If you have any leaks around your window frames, you may have noticed drafts either in winter or in the summer, and that will cause your air-conditioner or your furnace to work much harder than they should. By replacing your old leaky windows with modern energy efficient windows, you can save a ton of money on your utility bills every year. You can even take it a step further by having your windows treated with a low-E coating which will block the heat of the sun rays coming in, so your air-conditioner won’t have to work so hard.
Replace the front door
Another thing you can do to increase energy efficiency in your home is to replace the front door, because this is the primary entrance to your household, and it’s one of the most prominent ways that drafts will enter into the living room and other areas. A new front door will also be better insulated, and that will help conditioned air stay inside, so that your HVAC systems won’t have to work so hard. If you have a good energy-efficient door installed with a proper fit, you’ll gain tremendous benefits.
Replace old appliances
Old appliances have a tendency to run longer and to use more electricity than newer models. For this reason, it’s definitely worth your while to consider purchasing some more energy-efficient appliances and replacing your old ones. A great deal of improvement has been accomplished in modern appliances, and you can take advantage of all the benefits provided by them.
Tune up your HVAC systems
If you have an older furnace or air conditioner, they will definitely benefit by having a tune-up prior to the season where they will be used. If either of your units is 15 years old or more, you should probably consider replacing them in favor of a more energy-efficient unit. If replacement is not in your budget, you should try to get the tune-up done at least, so that your HVAC systems are operating at peak efficiency when needed.
Install more insulation
When your home was first built, the insulation factor was probably more than adequate, but that was probably many years ago. Even beefing up the insulation factor in your attic can make a tremendous difference in your heating and cooling bills. Since warm air typically exits a home through the attic, you can improve your insulation dramatically by adding more insulation there, and keeping conditioned air in the household.
Seal up air leaks in your HVAC
Whenever there are any leaks in the HVAC system, it will always cause your heating or cooling system to work much harder. You can locate these leaks by blowing fog through the ductwork of your home, and observing any spots where the fog comes outside the ductwork. If you do find leaks like this, you can seal them up with duct caulk, and it would be a good idea to wrap some insulation around the ductwork as well.
