Tips for Home Energy Savings This Fall

September 29, 2017

Fall is here, and with the changing of the seasons comes less hours of daylight, colder temperatures outdoors, and higher energy bills. Furnaces certainly keep homes warm and toasty, but during extreme weather, they can use up a significant portion of a home’s total energy use. Before winter sets in, take advantage of the opportunity to create more energy efficiency in your home. The following tips will help decrease your home’s energy use, lower your energy bills and help you maintain an efficient HVAC system, which translates to better home comfort overall

Tips for Better Energy Efficiency

Install a programmable thermostat. These devices let you improve the comfort within your home and lower your energy costs. They are available in various designs, ranging from simple programmable options to those you can control with your smartphone. Talk with a professional HVAC company (such as Shackelford) if you are considering replacing your thermostat, so you can make an informed decision about what will work best for your home.
Have a professional perform a Home Energy Audit. This will help you determine where your energy is being used most, and what improvements you can make to increase home energy efficiency.
When you are at home, sleeping, and away, decrease your thermostat to a lower temperature than you typically would. Set it around 68 ºF during the times when you are home, and reduce the temperature even lower while you are sleeping under warm blankets. You can lower your energy bills by as much as 3-5% for every degree you decrease your thermostat setting during colder months.
Weatherize your home to prevent drafts and warm air from escaping. Thoroughly check your house for air leaks by walking around the interior perimeter of your home. Air can easily come through or escape out of fireplaces, cracks in walls, attic entryways, and near doors and windows. For the best weatherproofing, be sure to caulk around windows and other areas where air leaks in. If needed, replace all worn weather stripping around doors to make your home as airtight as possible.
Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. If your ceiling fans have a reverse switch, as most do, then flip it to run the fan in a clockwise direction during the colder months. Doing this will produce an updraft and push heated air down from the ceiling (where warm air tends to collect) and back into the room.
Have a professional inspection and tune up of your HVAC system. During the cold winter months, the last thing you want is to have your home’s heating system break down. That’s why it is important to get regular maintenance on your HVAC system. Not only does having an annual “check-up” ensure that your home’s heating system is operating as it should, but it will help you reduce energy usage in your home. This is because a well-functioning HVAC system is a more efficient HVAC system. If you are in need of HVAC maintenance, then give the experts at Shackelford a call: (608) 530-0667.