10 Ways To Stop Wasting Money On Your Heating Air Conditioning
- Set your thermostat as low as comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. Also, clean or replace filters once a month or as needed.
- Ducts – Your home’s duct system carries the air from your home’s furnace and central air conditioner to each room in your house. Making sure your duct system is properly insulated can save hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills.
- If you use electricity to heat your home and live in a moderate climate, consider installing an energy-efficient heat pump system. 4) Turn of lights when not in use. Lights produce heat, which makes your air conditioning system work harder. Also, avoid placing lamps of TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat.
- Install a programmable thermostat. When you’re at work have the temperature turned up automatically. Vice-versa when you’re home in the evening.
- Check that your air conditioning condenser is located in a shady spot and has room to dispose of the heated air it removes from your home. Don’t crowd it with shrubs or anything else.
- Plant shade trees and shrubs around your home to help reduce the heat of the sun, especially on the south and west sides. This can help reduce your cooling costs by up to 30%.
- Fans – Run your ceiling fans so they push the air down toward the floor. This circulates the air in your home and will help you cool your home more efficiently than running the air conditioner by itself. In the winter run your fans the opposite direction. Portable fans will also improve airflow in rooms that don’t get as cool.
- Open the windows when possible to keep your house cool, without the air conditioning unit running.
- Long Term – Buy energy-efficient products when you purchase new heating and cooling equipment. Look for the ENERGY STAR and Energy Guide labels. These products can save a lot of money.