Did you know the biggest contributors to your energy bills are your water heating and your heating and AC system?
If you shed a tear when you opened your last electric bill, you may be looking for ways to lower your home’s energy bills. According to ENERGY STAR®, your heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system is your home’s biggest energy guzzler, followed by your water heater.
Knowing that, there are some steps you can take to make sure your home’s heater and AC are operating at optimal efficiency. When your HVAC system operates at optimal efficiency, it uses less energy.
Here are a few HVAC tips to help you lower your home energy bills in Alexandria:
- Change your air filters regularly: A dirty filter will slow down the airflow and make your HVAC system work harder.
- Service your HVAC equipment yearly, even if it’s working properly: This is why we suggest a service agreement with reminders for your yearly AC tune-up and annual heating system tune-up.
- Install a programmable thermostat: According to ENERGY STAR, proper use of a programmable thermostat can save you up to $180 per year.
- Seal your heating and cooling ducts: By sealing and insulating your ducts, ENERGY STAR states you can save as much as 20%.
- Consider installing ENERGY STAR-certified heating and cooling equipment.
- Have your HVAC system installed properly: When replacing your heating and air conditioning, installation is crucial to efficiency. The efficacy of an improperly installed HVAC system can be reduced by as much as 30%.
Ultimately, if your HVAC system is 10 years or older, it’s a perfect candidate to be upgraded to a new high-efficiency heating and cooling system.
The furnaces you can buy today are much more energy-efficient than those available 10 years ago. Working with a professional home comfort adviser will show you how much a high-efficiency furnace will save you.
According to Energy.gov, your water heater accounts for nearly 17% of your home’s energy use. Here are a few tips to minimize your hot water usage:
- Wash clothes in cold water rather than hot.
- Turn off the water when scrubbing dishes.
- Consider turning your storage water heater to vacation mode when you’re away for an extended period of time.
Ultimately, the best solution is to replace your old, inefficient storage water heater with a new high-efficiency option. Tankless water heaters are a popular solution to reduce your need for storing hot water.
Want more information on how to save on your electric and energy bills with a high-efficiency heating and air conditioning system or high-efficiency water heater?
Contact M.E. Flow today at (571) 350-3183 to request a quote on replacing your heating and AC system or water heater.