In this 7 part series on Saving Money on Home Energy Use-age is brought to you in conjunction with: Dariusz Rudnicki. Part 1 of 7 Maximizing your HVAC System Efficiency
Maximizing Your HVAC System Efficiency
Energy is not just the monthly bill you have to pay each month; it is the foundation of everything you do and the life to everything you have.
But with the increasing cost of energy, it cannot be denied that we need to take important measures to limit our energy consumption.
Saving energy becomes a must and a habit that everyone should seriously adapt.
Let us break apart a typical household monthly energy bill (the following are just approximate numbers);
Take note of this power distribution to know where exactly you can maximize your savings. Since over 40% of your energy bill goes for your heating and cooling systems, let me show you how to maximize your savings here: 1. Have your heating and air conditioning system serviced by a known and TRUSTED professional on (at least) a seasonal basis - this will help to lower energy cost and it will keep you safe! Remember - a TRUSTED professional, ask around - check this post - http://www.checkthishouse.com/furnace-ac-seasonal-inspection-do-you-trust-your-hvac-guy.html If you have a 15-20+ year old forced air gas furnace, ask for its heat exchanger evaluation! Compromised heat exchangers may lead to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. I highly recommend following those two links: 2. Clean (if they are the cleanable type) or replace your air filters every one to four months - this time span depends on the filter type installed in your forced air HVAC system. A contaminated air filter blocks air flow and forces the system to work much harder in order to provide the same output. You might have your HVAC system air filter access installed in your attic or crawlspace and you don't even remember that it needs replacement on a regular basis. Replacing your HVAC system air filter on regular basis can lower your monthly heating / AC bill by up to 25%. 3. Clean baseboard heaters, radiators, air ducts, and air registers as often as necessary; make sure that they are working properly. Ensure that they are not blocked by drapes, carpeting, and / or furniture. If you have furry pets in your home, your cleaning efforts will need to double or even triple. 4. Bleed air from the hot water heating system radiators before and during the heating season to maximize their performance. Touch their surface, heat should be distributed evenly. If they are cold or lukewarm, make sure that their valves are fully open, and if that does not help - bleed the air. 5. Always set the thermostat at a comfortable level - do you really need to make a freezer out of your home and wear a sweater during the summer? Are you opening the windows during the winter because it is too hot in your home? 6. Make sure the thermostat is free of dust and installed in a strategic location - far from heat sources, door / window openings and ventilation ports. Utilize programmable type thermostats - they are not much more expensive (some even cheaper) than the regular, old fashioned ones, and they can save you up to $180 in yearly heating and air conditioning bills. 7. Prepare the humidifier(s) before the cold season. Properly operating whole house units that are attached to the central air heating system make your life more comfortable. By slightly increasing the humidity in your home, you will be able to lower the thermostat temperature, while still feeling comfortable and saving energy at the same time. However, not every humidifier will save you money - do some research and pick Energy Star rated humidifiers. I can personally recommend one by Desert Spring; it is extremely energy efficient and performs well in my house - this is going to be its third winter. Honeywell TrueSTEAM whole house humidifiers are also a great choice. Keep the humidity level below 50% to avoid condensation buildup and mold growth - you should be OK at the 35%-40% level. 8. Clean the AC condenser and the "A" coil as needed - this will dramatically improve their efficiency, thus lowering your energy bill. 9. Make sure that the immediate area surrounding your AC condenser is open - no shrubs, vines, or anything else blocking air movement. Putting a deck over your AC condenser is not a good idea, either. 10. If you are planning to upgrade your HVAC system, do some research first. Look for the Energy Star label when choosing your appliance. All of the above will save you a lot of cash every month and you can do it with little or no money out of your pocket... well, except for a professional servicing of your HVAC equipment. Look out for the Part 2 of "How to Instantly Reduce Typical Household Energy Consumption" E-Course coming to you in a few days. I will be talking about making your house shine for 1/4 of your current cost. For more details about HVAC energy savings and tons of other energy saving tips that will immediately and dramatically improve your home's efficiency, check my 100% Risk-Free E-Book - "How to Instantly Reduce Typical Household Energy Consumption" http://typicalhouseholdenergyconsumption.checkthishouse.com Best Regards, Dariusz Rudnicki |
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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com
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