Winter or summer there’s one thing on your mind – your energy bill. If the weather is cold and windy you worry about the heat, and if the weather is hot and steamy you worry about the cooling. But, did you know there are a few simple things you can do to help your energy bill no matter what month it is?
Here they are!
- Keep your thermostat set on auto.
If you don’t know the different settings on your thermostat, you should get to know them. No matter whether you are using heating or cooling you can have your thermostat set to “on”, “off”, or auto. What most people don’t know is that when their thermostat is set to “on”, their furnace will constantly run. When a thermostat is set to auto, however, the furnace or cooling system will only run when the house falls above or below the temperature you have the thermostat set on. A system that runs only when it needs to will save you money.
- Draw your shades or blinds according to the weather.
Believe it or not, your shades and blinds can be used for more than just aesthetic design. If used properly they can keep the heat out and cool in or cool out and heat in depending on the season. In the winter months, open the shades or blinds during the day to let bright sunlight and warmth in and then draw them at night to keep the cold out. In the summer months, draw the shades during the day to keep the hot summer sun out, and at night open the shades to let the cooler air in. This method helps to naturally heat and cool your home.
- Seal all cracks and leaks that let outside air in.
Although it’s not as simple as drawing your shades or setting your thermostat to auto, sealing the cracks and leaks around your windows and doors makes a drastic difference in your heating and cooling efficiency. Even the smallest crack around a window can let a lot of cool air in during the winter or warm air during the summer that will make your furnace or A/C work overtime.
To help with your heating and cooling efficiency, you can also invest in a professional inspection to evaluate how effective your system is and what you can do to improve its functionality. Just call the professionals at Arctic Plumbing, HVAC, and Electric.
