What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in West Columbia?
If you’re wanting to save money, a great place to begin is right inside your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home usually makes up about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t require a huge investment of money or time. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have a couple additional tips that can help keep your bills as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you reach out to your local utility provider, they will come do an energy audit of your home. These services are usually provided free-of-charge and assess everything that is showing up on your monthly bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. A lot of utility companies also can provide rebates for insulation and other things that can boost your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have come a long way, and the technology behind them only continues to change. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to employ the GPS In your smartphone to figure out when you’re leaving and makes the proper adjustment to help you save money and boost efficiency while you’re not home. When you return home, everything returns to normal and you don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s also able to learn your routine, so when baseball and football seasons roll around, your thermostat can make the correct adjustment.
The Department of Energy states that a well programmed thermostat could
reduce your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while ensuring you’re comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are several different models to choose from so pick the one that best adapts to your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes quite a bit, a 7-day model is probably your best choice. They offer you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These normally have four possible temperature phases each day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are best if you maintain the same schedule on weekdays and another for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re almost to the point where your system should be replaced, it’s a good idea to take a look at all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time comes. Look at the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of air conditioners and the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnaces. The higher the ratings, the better the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C experts will help you make a well-informed decision that meets you and your needs.
If you’re not there yet, a simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system working smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or possibilities, give us a call at 803-265-4208.